2019 SEC Softball Tournament: Alabama bests Kentucky

Alabama is playing for a championship on Saturday!

The Crimson Tide defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 6-3 on Friday night to earn a berth in the SEC Tournament Title Game. The win assures them a shot at their sixth softball tourney title, as they’ll face off with the Florida Gators in College Station on Saturday night.

‘Bama put up a big ol’ six spot in the 2nd inning to help lift them to victory. KB Sides’ three-RBI double was the biggest of blows, as she cleared the bases with her deft hit to left center. Other runs had been tacked on via a walk by Claire Jenkins, a single by Caroline Hardy and Merris Schroder, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

Kentucky had to scrape back, but the game was not without controversy. A pitch dealt to Abbey Cheek was called a strike and resulted in a strikeout of the SEC Player of the Year. The pitch, though, looked to be even with the other batters box, which of course would lead it to being a ball. The call by the ump didn’t change, however, and UK was forced to deal with that bind the rest of the way. They piled on three runs along the way in three of the next four innings, but were ultimately taken down by ‘Bama.

The runs were driven in by Jenny Schaper, who hit a single up the middle, and Mallory Peyton who hit a sac fly. Lauren Johnson was also responsible for a run, as she plated one on a single that also went up the middle.