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Alabama softball vs Florida final score: Updates, highlights from Tide’s season-ending WCWS loss

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Alabama softball vs Florida final score: Updates, highlights from Tide’s season-ending WCWS loss

The 2024 season was a commendable one for the Alabama softball team, with 39 victories and the program’s fourth Women’s College World Series appearance since 2019.

On Sunday, though, it came to an end.

More: Watch Alabama softball vs Florida in the WCWS live on Fubo (free trial)

Marlie Giles had two hits and an RBI while Riley Valentine added two RBIs, but it wasn’t enough to carry a Crimson Tide team that was on its heels for much of the afternoon against an explosive Florida offense in a 6-4 loss to the Gators at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

With the setback, and having already suffered a WCWS-opening loss to UCLA, Alabama was knocked out of the double-elimination tournament.

REQUIRED READING: Alabama softball vs. Florida prediction for Women’s College World Series

No. 14 Alabama’s three pitchers combined to give up 10 hits across seven innings, with starter Kayla Beaver giving up six across four innings while allowing two earned runs and no strikeouts. Jocelyn Briski took the loss for the Tide, allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, across 1 2/3 innings of work.

Tied at two entering the fifth inning, No. 4 Florida got an RBI single from Reagan Walsh to break the deadlock. The Gators had far more in store in the next inning, however, when SEC Player of the Year Jocelyn Erickson blasted a three-run home run off Alea Johnson, who had just entered the game to relieve Briski, to stretch Florida’s lead to 6-2.

Alabama rebounded to get two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Valentine bringing in a run on a fielder’s choice and Kali Heivilin hitting an RBI single, but the Tide’s opportunity to do more damage ended with Lauren Johnson flying out to right field for the third out of the inning, stranding runners on first and second.

Still trailing by two runs, Alabama’s lineup was retired in order in the seventh inning to end the game and allow the Gators to advance to play three-time reigning NCAA champion Oklahoma Monday. Heivilin, Kristen White and Lauren Esman finished with a hit apiece for the Tide.

Here is a look at Alabama’s season-ending loss, including updates and highlights:

REQUIRED READING: What channel is Alabama softball vs. Florida on today? Time, TV schedule for WCWS elimination game

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Florida 0 0 2 0 1 3 0
Alabama 0 1 1 0 0 2 0

All times Central

7:23 p.m.: On the first pitch of the next at-bat, Giles gets solid contact, but lines out to left field. Alabama’s season ends in the WCWS.

7:22 p.m.: Preuitt strikes out swinging. Two outs.

7:21 p.m.: Interesting move from Patrick Murphy. Larissa Preuitt pinch-hitting for Cahalan, who was 0 for 3 today. Let’s see how this plays out.

7:20 p.m.: What looked like a check swing from White ends in a groundout, shortstop to first. One out.

Top of the seventh inning: Florida 6, Alabama 4

7:16 p.m.: Falby grounds out to end the top half of the inning. Tide have three outs left to force the game into extra innings or win it. Due up: White, Cahalan, Giles, in order.

7:15 p.m.: Another called strike three for Johnson, who this time gets out Kowalewski. Two outs.

7:14 p.m.: Johnson strikes out Kistler looking to open up the inning.

7:09 p.m.: Lauren Johnson pops out to right to end the inning. Still a productive run through the lineup for Alabama, which is in significantly better position than it was 15 minutes ago.

7:06 p.m.: Heivilin singles to left field in the next at-bat, sending Johnson home. Alabama now within two with runners on first and second and two outs.

7:05 p.m.: Almost a worst case scenario there for Alabama, with Valentine grounding to short. Florida nearly turns the double play, but is unable to bring it in at first. Giles crosses home to get the Tide within three.

7:01 p.m.: Lauren Esman with a bloop single to center field. Bases are loaded with one out for Riley Valentine with a chance to tie the game. Nobody you’d want more here. Valentine has the team’s lone two grand slams this season, the most recent of which won the Tide its Super Regional series against Tennessee.

7 p.m.: Alabama might have something cooking here, with runners on first and second with one out after singles from Marlie Giles and Jenna Johnson.

6:55 p.m.: Her team is down four runs now, but what an incredible defensive play from Kristen White in center field. Reagan Walsh ripped what looked like a potential double for Florida, but White lays out to catch the ball at the warning track (and avoiding a nasty collision with the wall). Alabama’s up next, with six outs left to try to continue its season.

6:53 p.m.: Erickson clobbers a homer to center field on the third pitch of the at-bat to bring three more runs across the plate and give Florida a 6-2 lead.

6:50 p.m.: Patrick Murphy makes a pitching change. Alea Johnson coming in the game for Jocelyn Briski, who relieved Kayla Beaver after the fourth inning. This is Johnson’s first postseason appearance. Jocelyn Erickson up to the plate.

6:49 p.m.: Otis hits a chopper that Heivilin charges at, but is unable to bring in and throw to first, instead bouncing off of her chest. Goelz, who stole second the previous pitch, moves to third while Otis is at first.

6:47 p.m.: Wallace pops out to deep center field, with White snagging it on the warning track. Two outs.

6:44 p.m.: Goelz with a single up the middle. Florida now up to nine hits today, compared to three for Alabama.

6:41 p.m.: Mia Williams grounds out for Florida. One out.

Bottom of the fifth inning: Florida 3, Alabama 2

6:38 p.m.: Cahalan pops out to first in foul territory. Inning over for the Tide.

6:37 p.m.: White very nearly beats out the throw on another bunt, but gets thrown out. Still, the intent of the play comes to fruition, with Johnson advancing to second with two outs.

6:35 p.m.: Lauren Johnson reaches first on a wild pitch that would have otherwise been a swinging third strike.

6:33 p.m.: Heivilin flies out to right field to open up the inning for Alabama.

6:29 p.m.: Falby grounds out to Briski to end the inning. Alabama falls behind, but given where it was earlier, with runners on second and third with one out, giving up just one run that inning ain’t too shabby.

6:27 p.m.: Kowalewski strikes out swinging. Two outs.

6:25 p.m.: Kistler is thrown out at first on a sac bunt, but does her job, advancing Florida’s runners to second and third with one out.

6:23 p.m.: Reagan Walsh rips a single up the middle to send Otis home. Erickson moves to second. Gators back up on top

6:21 p.m.: Korbe Otis singles and Jocelyn Erickson walks to open the inning. Runners on first and second for Florida with no outs.

Bottom of the fourth inning: Alabama 2, Florida 2

6:16 p.m.: A quick, one-two-three inning for Alabama, with Jenna Johnson flying out to center, Lauren Esman grounding out and Riley Valentine popping up to second base.

Top of the fourth inning: Alabama 2, Florida 2

6:10 p.m.: Kayla Beaver gets out of the jam, with Avery Goelz flying out to left and Skylar Wallace popping out to center.

6:07 p.m.: After Kendra Falby lines out to short, Florida gets another single, this time on a line drive from Mia Williams to left. Kowalewski moves on to second base, giving the Gators two runners on and just one out.

6:04 p.m.: Ariel Kowalewski singles up the middle to lead off the inning for Florida.

6 p.m.: After Kenleigh Cahalan strikes out, Marlie Giles singles up the middle, with Johnson crossing home and White ending up at second. Florida gets a double play the next at-bat, with runners on first and second, but Alabama does what it needs to and ties the game up.

5:57 p.m.: Kristen White with a beautifully executed bunt and beats out the throw to first, with Johnson moving to second. Runners on first and second with no outs for Alabama.

5:56 p.m.: Lauren Johnson gets a leadoff walk for Alabama.

5:52 p.m.: Katie Kistler pops out to center to end the inning.

5:49 p.m.: Reagan Walsh grounds to short on what could have been an inning-ending double play, but Kenleigh Cahalan flips it to second with her glove, not her hand, with the ball floating a bit before reaching the glove of Kali Heivilin. Tide gets the out at second, but can’t turn the double play. Otis crosses home to give Florida the lead. Walsh on first with two outs.

5:48 p.m.: Erickson rips a single to right center, sending Wallace home and Otis to third. Tie game.

5:45 p.m.: Korbe Otis walks. Runners on first and second for Florida with one out. SEC player of the year Jocelyn Erickson up to bat now for the Gators.

5:42 p.m.: Ruling on the field is changed. Wallace is at first for Florida with one out. Fourth infield single of the year for her.

5:40 p.m.: Avery Goelz grounds out to open the inning for Florida. Skylar Wallace is called out on the groundout during the next at-bat, but Florida is challenging the call. On replay, I think she just beats the throw, but it may not be conclusive enough to overturn.

5:36 p.m.: Kali Heivilin pops out to third in foul territory. End of the inning for Alabama with a runner stranded, but it gets an all-important first run.

5:35 p.m.: Riley Valentine grounds out, but it sends Dowling home. Tide strike first, with Johnson now on second.

5:33 p.m.: What would have been a line drive single virtually anywhere else on the field for Lauren Esman ends up right in the glove of Florida’s Mia Williams. Runners stay. One out.

5:31 p.m.: Some miscommunication in the Florida outfield benefits Alabama. What would have been a Bailey Dowling pop-out falls to the turf after the Gators’ center and right fielders are unable to firmly determine who had the ball. Dowling reaches second base and moves to third after a Jenna Johnson single. Runners on first and third for the Tide with no outs.

5:30 p.m.: Heads up: the game has switched over to ESPN2. For all you slippery stairs aficionados, your time has come on ESPNews.

Top of the second inning: Alabama 0, Florida 0

5:28 p.m.: Kowalewski advances to second base on a groundout, but Florida pops up to first base to end the threat.

5:25 p.m.: Ariel Kowalewski fights off an 0-2 count to single up the middle to give Florida its second base-runner of the day.

5:21 p.m.: Katie Kistler sends a ball to deep center field, but it’s caught on the warning track by Kristen White. One out.

Bottom of the first inning: Alabama 0, Florida 0

5:17 p.m.: Three up, three down for Alabama. Kristen White pops out to third base while Kenleigh Cahalan and Marlie Giles both strike out swinging.

Top of the first inning: Alabama 0, Florida 0

5:09 p.m.: Kayla Beaver allows a baserunner on a single from Korbe Otis to center field, but with Otis on first base and two outs, Kali Heivlin makes an outstanding play at second base to get Otis out at second and end the top half of the first.

Pregame

4:59 p.m.: The early part of the game will be airing on ESPNews, which, no lie, just finished airing dodgeball. Texas-Louisiana softball is running in a bit long on ESPN2, so this will be the temporary home. ESPNews was set to air something called “Slippery Stairs 2023”

4:49 p.m.: Starting lineup for the Gators, who are countering with Keagan Rothrock, who is 31-8 this season with a team-best 2.47 ERA.

4:45 p.m.: Starting lineup for the Tide, with Kayla Beaver taking the circle in the do-or-die game

4:26 p.m.: Alabama making note of the new start time.

3:42 p.m.: After a lengthy weather delay, the tarp is coming off the field at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

What channel is Alabama softball vs Florida on today?

The Tide and Gators will face off in a game that will be broadcast on ABC. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Michele Smith (analyst) and Jessica Mendoza (analyst) will be on the call while Holly Rowe will serve as an on-field reporter.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Alabama softball vs Florida start time

  • Date: Sunday, June 2, 2024
  • Time: 5:06 p.m. CT

Following a weather delay, the first pitch for Alabama’s game against Florida is scheduled for 5:06 p.m. CT from Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

REQUIRED READING: How Patrick Murphy’s lineup changes have paid off in Alabama softball’s WCWS run

Alabama softball schedule 2024

Here is a look at Alabama’s 2024 NCAA Tournament and WCWS results. To see the Tide’s full 2024 schedule, click here.

Tuscaloosa Regional

  • Friday, May 17: Alabama 1, USC Upstate 0
  • Saturday, May 18: Alabama 6, Southeastern Louisiana 3 (nine innings)
  • Sunday, May 19: Alabama 12, Southeastern Louisiana 2 (five innings)

Knoxville Super Regional

  • Friday, May 24: Tennessee 3, Alabama 2
  • Saturday, May 25: Alabama 3, Tennessee 2 (14 innings)
  • Sunday, May 26: Alabama 4, Tennessee 1

Women’s College World Series

  • Thursday, May 30: UCLA 4, Alabama 1
  • Friday, May 31: Alabama 2, Duke 1
  • Sunday, June 2: vs. Florida

Florida softball schedule 2024

Here is a look at Florida’s 2024 NCAA Tournament and WCWS results. To see the Gators’ full 2024 schedule, click here.

Gainesville Regional

  • Friday, May 17: Florida 6, Florida Gulf Coast 0
  • Saturday, May 18: Florida 9, South Alabama 1 (five innings)
  • Sunday, May 19: Florida 9, South Alabama 1 (five innings)

Gainesville Super Regional

  • Friday, May 24: Florida 4, Baylor 2
  • Saturday, May 25: Baylor 5, Florida 2
  • Sunday, May 26: Florida 5, Baylor 3

Women’s College World Series

  • Thursday, May 30: Florida 1, Oklahoma State 0
  • Saturday, June 1: Texas 10, Florida 0 (five innings)
  • Sunday, June 2: vs. Alabama

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