Arizona Softball

Arizona run-rules Alabama with Altmeyer’s walk-off hit

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Kaiah Altmeyer went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a run against Alabama on Saturday. (Arizona Athletics)

No. 17 Arizona scored seven runs in the fifth inning to run-rule No. 11 Alabama, 9-1, on day three of the Candrea Classic on Saturday afternoon at Hillenbrand Stadium.

The Wildcats held a 2-1 lead when Kaiah Altmeyer singled and Sydney Stewart walked to open the bottom of the fifth. Devyn Netz then drove both runners home with a two-run RBI double to extend Arizona’s lead to 4-1, leading the Alabama staff to have Alea Johnson relieve Jocelyn Briski in the circle.

Johnson gave up single through the middle to Kiki Escobar, and Emma Kavagnah singled to right, scoring Tagalog from third who was pinch-running for Netz to make it a 5-1 game. Tayler Biehl then laid down a bunt down the third base line to load the bases, and Escobar scored on a wild pitch to give Arizona a 6-1 lead.

Altmeyer took the plate for the second time in the bottom half of the inning and ended the game with a three-RBI line drive that bounced off right-fielder Larissa Preuitt‘s glove.

Altmeyer said the team was feeding off each other at the plate in the fifth -inning rally.

“I think just passing the bat. That’s our motto,” she said. “Get the bat to the next person, and I think I was just the one. I was waiting for that moment, and I just did what I could.”

Arizona dropped two games at Alabama last season. Wildcats’ head coach Caitlin Lowe was pleased with how the offense fared against Briski and Johnson.

“I think Alabama is a great team. They have great hitting and great defense. Always great pitching. So, I think, being able to make adjustments with a really good pitcher like Briski was huge for us, and we struggled against Alea Johnson when we went to Alabama last year,” she said. “So, to be able to execute against her, it felt like we were making steps in the right direction to kind of not let the game get too big and simplify it in those moments.”

Arizona starter Miranda Stoddard and Alabama right-hander Briski began the game in a pitching duel, allowing one hit each through 2 1/2 innings.

Arizona (4-1) got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. Dakota Kennedy reached on an error by Alabama shortstop Brooke Ellestad, and Regan Shockey beat out an infield slapper to first to put two runners on with one out. Stewart hit a two-RBI single through the right side to put the Wildcats up 2-0.

Stoddard walked Ellestad to open the fourth and Alexis Pupillo followed her with a single to get two runners on base for Alabama. With one out, Riley Valentine reached base on a fielder’s choice, but Ellestad was caught in a pickle and tagged out coming home. Preuitt popped out to end the top half and get Stoddard and Arizona out of a jam.

In the top of the fifth, Alabama (3-1) got runners on the corners off a pair of singles from Kali Heivilin and Lauren Johnson prompting a pitching change.

Audrey Vandagriff was the first batter Ryan Maddox faced, and she grounded out, scoring Johnson from third. Maddox made a great defensive play, snagging a bouncing grounder from Ellestad near hear head before throwing her out at first to record the third out and retain a 2-1 lead for Arizona.

Stoddard (2-0) allowed one run off four hits with a walk.

Briski (1-1) allowed four runs off six hits with three strikeouts and four walks in four innings.

Arizona plays Washington (2-2) at Hillenbrand Stadium on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

The Huskies beat Arizona, 6-2, on Friday and lost to Alabama twice in the Candrea Classic.

FOLLOW @KEVINMURFEE ON TWITTER!ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com writer Kevin Murphy was born and raised in Tucson, and has followed Arizona Wildcats athletics since childhood. Murphy is a journalist product manager with the Green Valley News & the Sahuarita Sun. He has a bachelor’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU.

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