Feb 13, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama player Alexis Pupillo gives a high five to Abby Duchsherer after she scored in the game with Purdue at Rhoads Stadium in the East Bama Bash, the home opening weekend tournament. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesC BMon, February 23, 2026 at 3:03 AM UTC·11 min readAlabama softball Alexis PupilloBama moves to 13-0.
GAME 1: ALABAMA 7, ELON 0 – Perfect Game!
We won’t bury the lede. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. A perfect game is a difficult task to accomplish. Early Friday morning, Kaitlyn Pallozzi faced 21 batters and knocked down 21 batters. Not a single dribbler, walk, HBP, error, dropped third strike, or catcher’s interference. The freshman struck out six and oddly enough coerced only five ground outs. The other 10 outs were fly balls corralled by the Tide defense.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter going down 1-2-3 in the 1st inning, the Alabama bats came alive in the bottom of 2nd. Alexis Pupillo led off with a single and Jena Young followed up with a double. Ana Roman would single both runners in for an early 2-0 lead.
In the 4th, Roman was hit by a pitch and sacrificed to second before Ambrey Taylor knocked her in with a single. In the 5th, Salen Hawkins singled in Audrey Vandagriff. Following a Young single, Roman hit a bomb over the center field wall for 3 RBIs.
NOTES:
Despite the 12 hits and seven runs, the Alabama offense was a little lacking at times. Only two of the hits went for extra bases.
Vandagriff was hitless at the top of the order with only a walk to her name.
Mari Hubbard started at third base over Abby Duchscherer. Taylor got the nod at first base over Brooke Wells. Pupillo was behind the plate – maybe more of that?
Bama had some missed opportunities in the 2nd. With no outs, Roman was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double. Alabama would put runners at second and third bases but could no cash in.
The Tide again put runners on second and third in the 3rd inning but could not score.
Taylor was also thrown out trying to swipe second base.
Young and Kristen White each stole a base.
Pallozzi’s perfect game was the sixth in Alabama history and first since Montana Fouts’s famous World Series win over UCLA in 2021.
GAME 2: ALABAMA 8, FLORIDA STATE 0
Wow. Vic Moten, y’all. The Tide freshmen absolutely dominated. The first hit for FSU was a ball that fell between two Bama defenders but the Seminole batter was caught off the bag rounding first base and was thrown out by Salen Hawkins. The second hit for Florida State was another bloop hit that was stretched into a double. The third and final hit on the day for the home team was a 7th inning single that was erased on a fielder’s choice. No other ‘Nole reached base. Moten faced 23 batters and struck out seven.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Crimson Tide offense harkened back to the opening weekend with a big inning of multiple dingers. Following three innings of neither team getting a hit, Brooke Wells got the Bama bats busting out with a solo job to open the frame.
After a ground out, it was Alexis Pupillo’s turn.
Marlie Giles then doubled, which caused a pitching change. It didn’t matter to Ana Roman.
In the 7th, Wells doubled to the wall and Salen Hawkins was hit by a pitch. Pupillo had a laser shot up the middle to drive in a run. Marlie Giles would then bunt her way onto first base. After an out, Jena Young hit a ball that was just beyond the reach of the FSU second baseman to push the Bama lead to 6-0.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFollowing the second out of the inning, Alabama had the bases loaded when Kristen White hit the ball about as hard as you’ll ever see her hit one that got through the left side of the infield. On the play, Larissa Preuitt collided with the Seminoles shortstop as she left second base. Giles scored on the play from third and due to defensive interference Preuitt was awarded a run as well. Initially, Patrick Murphy waved Preuitt around third and she was easily thrown out on the play. One would have to assume he sent her home because he knew the run would still count.
Following all that excitement, Audrey Vandagriff just barely missed a three run homer, but the lead was 7-0 and that is where it stayed.
NOTES:
Vandagriff had a tough day at the plate going 0 for 5. She struck out in the 1st inning but hit the ball pretty hard in each of the other four at bats.
Three Tide players were hit by pitches in this game.
Hubbard again played the hot corner as Duchscherer watched the game from the dugout.
Wells and Giles were back at their usual positions, and Pup was the DH.
GAME 3: ALABAMA 5, FLORIDA STATE 1
Don’t park to close to the outfield when Alexis Pupillo is at bat.
In the 4th, Mari Hubbard joined the home run parade.
In the 5th, it was Pupillo again!
Jena Young led off the 6th with a solo homer to complete the scoring for Alabama.
Jocelyn Briski (3-0) took home the complete game win in the circle, striking out a career-best nine batters. Despite an incredible effort, she repeated a flaw that we have seen from her in recent seasons by giving up a run late in a game with a lead. With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, she surrendered a solo four-bagger that broke up the shutout.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNOTES:
70 of Briski’s 84 pitches were thrown for strikes (83 percent). Zero walks or HBP.
It was another struggle for Vandagriff as she went hitless in four at bats with two strikeouts.
Bama put two runners on base in the 3rd inning, but could not score.
The Tide put two on in the 5th inning as well.
It was the first loss of the season for FSU ace Jazzy Francik (5-1).
FSU fab freshman Makenna Sturgis had three of her team’s five hits including a double and a homer.
Young stole a base.
Hubbard started the third straight game at third base.
GAME 4: ALABAMA 9, ELON 0 – RAIN, Cancelled in the mid 3rd inning
It’s a shame this game could not continue as Bama was again putting up some crooked numbers. The Tide collected five runs in the 2nd and four in the 3rd before the heavens opened up. At that point, Salen Hawkins was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. However, none of these stats will count.
Senior Alea Johnson made her first start of the season, gave up a bloop single and recorded 3 Ks.
NOTES:
Vandagriff started the game on the bench. Kristen White manned centerfield and was 2 for 2 with 2 runs scored.
Jena Young led off and had a double and a walk.
Gerritt Griggs started at third base and collected an RBI single.
Abby Duchscherer was at first base. She was 0-1 with a walk and a run.
Pupillo was the catcher.
GAME 5: ALABAMA 3 DARTHMOUTH 2
Just when you got feeling good about this team, they barely squeak this one out against this winless Ivy League team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementForgotten pitcher Braya Hodges started in the circle and was a little rocky. After giving up doubles in each of the first two innings, the leadoff hitter of the 3rd inning reached first base on a fielding error by Hodges. At this point, Patrick Murphy had seen enough and brought in Kaitlyn Pallozzi. The first two batters she faced singled and it was 1-0 Dartmouth. With runners on the corners, the runner on first base attempted a steal and was caught in a rundown just long enough for the runner from third to score a second run. Pallozzi settled down and struck out the next two batters.
Still leading 2-0 in the top of 5th with one out, two Big Green batters singled and ended Pallozzi’s day. Vic Moten entered the fray and struck out the next two batters.
The Crimson Tide offense only had two hits through the first four innings, but finally broke through in the 5th thanks to Dartmouth errors. With one away, Larissa Preuitt reached first base on a throwing error by the third baseman. After a sacrifice, Preuitt stole third base and scored on a wild throw. Jena Young then walked and moved up a station on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Marlie Giles doubled her in to tie it up and then (who else?) Alexis Pupillo singled Giles in to take the 3-2 lead. Bama held onto the lead and avoided a huge embarrassment.
NOTES:
Young again led off.
Pup was behind the plate.
Gerritt Griggs was at the hot corner.
Abby Duchscherer was at first base.
Preuitt in left and White in center.
Ana Roman and Preuitt stole bases.
Vandagriff was caught stealing.
[SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: The section below is not all rainbows, lollipops, and unicorns. If we see an issue that we deem worth discussing, RBR is not going to shy away from it. That is the MO that this whole website is based on. If you want sunshine pumped up your nether regions, there are PLENTY of those people more than willing to provide that service. If you are easily triggered, stop reading now and play the above video on repeat. If you live in the real world, carry on my wayward son.]
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSERIES NOTES
Alabama is 13-0 with a score differential of 106-12. In addition, the Tide has two games cancelled (vs Georgia Southern, vs Elon) due to weather that would have undoubtedly been wins.
The only Alabama error in the entire series came from pitcher Braya Hodges. If the Tide defense can continue this trend, they will win a lot of games.
Outside of the Dartmouth game, it is hard to find some fault in the team’s performance.
Vandagriff had a rough weekend, collecting only one single in 12 at bats. She scored one run, had one walk, no RBIs and 3 strikeouts. She also got caught stealing in the weekend’s finale.
Duchscherer did not do much to help her case. The senior reached base only once by way of a walk in four plate appearances. She also whiffed twice.
Mari Hubbard got hits in all three of her starts at third base, including a homer. She may be the answer at the hot corner for the time being.
MVPs
PUPILLO: 7-13 (.538 BA), 3 HR, 1 DBL, 6 RBI, 5 RUNS
MOTEN: 9.2 IP, 2 WINS, 0.00 ERA, 3 HITS ALLOWED, 0 RUNS, 2 BB, 11 K, 7-0 overall
UPCOMING ALABAMA SCHEDULE
The Crimson Tide return home for the first midweek game of the season and then the Crimson Classic. More like Cupcake Classic.
Tue, Feb 24 vs UAB 4pm/5pm
Fri, Feb 27 vs St. Thomas 4pm/5pm
Fri, Feb 27 vs USF 6pm/7pm
Sat, Feb 28 vs Kent State 11am/noon
Sat, Feb 28 vs USF 1pm/2pm
Sun, Mar 1 vs St. Thomas 11:30/12:30
HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY
SECN Streaming (ESPN+).
#RollTide #Team30
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