Alabama defeated Missouri 2-1 in the opening game of their softball series on March 20, with Jocelyn Briski pitching a complete game for the Crimson Tide.
The win marks Alabama’s third consecutive opening-game victory in Southeastern Conference play this season. The team relied on solo home runs from Brooke Wells and Marlie Giles to provide all the necessary offense, while Briski limited Missouri to just three hits and one walk, striking out five batters.
Head Coach Patrick Murphy said, “We’ve had great success all year with really good starting pitching and team defense. Tonight was the same recipe. [Jocelyn] Briski was in command all night. Brooke [Wells] and Marlie [Giles] gave us two tons on two hits.”
Briski’s performance was her sixth complete game of the year, continuing a streak of holding opponents to one run in each of her last four outings. Her five strikeouts brought her season total to 99, putting her within reach of tying her previous season high of 117 strikeouts.
Alexis Pupillo extended her reached-base streak to 25 games with a single in the third inning. The scoring began with Wells’ solo home run in the first inning, followed by Giles’ opposite-field homer in the fourth. Missouri’s Abby Carr hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to avoid a shutout.
The series continues with games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Missouri.
