Alabama softball eliminated in crushing WCWS defeat to Texas Tech: Highlights – The Tuscaloosa News

OKLAHOMA CITY — In just a matter of five hours, Alabama softball went from the winners bracket to ending its season in the Women’s College World Series semifinals.
The No. 1 seed Crimson Tide (56-9) fell 2-0 to No. 11 seed Texas Tech (60-8) to solidify its fate in a do-or-die game after suffering a first 5-4 loss to the Red Raiders on Monday, June 1, at Devon Park. 
In Game 1, Marlie Giles got Alabama on the board first when she ran home off a sacrifice fly in the second inning and built on that with a leadoff home run in the fourth. Jena Young tied the game at the top of the seventh with a two-run homer, but Mia Williams shot a walk-off home run to give Texas Tech the win in the bottom of the inning.
A first-pitch, leadoff home run from Jasmyn Burns at the top of the fourth inning proved all Texas Tech needed to shut out Alabama to advance to the Women’s College World Series finals. Well, that and a two-hitter performance from ace NiJaree Canady. The Red Raiders added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
Here’s how Alabama softball’s season ended vs. Texas Tech.
Two quick outs set Audrey Vandagriff up for a do-or-die double. Freshman Ambrey Taylor stepped up to the plate, but flied out to end Alabama softball’s 2026 season in a 2-0 shutout to Texas Tech.
With the bases loaded and one out on the board, Vic Moten struck out one and forced a groundout to get out of the jam.
It’s down to Alabama softball’s last three outs to get two runs or end its season.
A critical Alabama softball throwing error cushioned Texas Tech’s lead to 2-0 over the Crimson Tide with one out at the top of the seventh.
Kristen White grounded out to shortstop to start, and Jena Young struck out. Brooke Wells advanced off a hit by pitch, but Alexis Pupillo fouled out to close the sixth inning scoreless.
It’ll be down to a final three outs for Alabama softball to keep its season alive after Texas Tech attempts to build its 1-0 lead at the top of the seventh.
Back-to-back singles forced Alabama softball to turn to freshman Vic Moten in relief of Jocelyn Briski with no outs at the top of the sixth inning.
Moten started with a groundout, and a fly out to Kristen White marked the second of the inning. With runners on second and third, another fly out to White got the Crimson Tide out of the jam.
NiJaree Canady struck out Audrey Vandagriff and Ambrey Taylor, while Salen Hawkins grounded out to first to close the fifth inning as Texas Tech leads 1-0 over Alabama softball.
Mihyia Davis doubled through the right side and advanced to third off a groundout to Jocelyn Briski, but Texas Tech stranded her off a groundout to Salen Hawkins. The Red Raiders lead 1-0 over Alabama softball heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Brooke Wells flied out to centerfield and Alexis Pupillo grounded out to second base. Marlie Giles walked, but Ana Roman grounded out to second to close the fourth inning. Alabama softball trails 1-0 to Texas Tech entering the fifth.
Jasmyn Burns got Texas Tech on the board with a leadoff home run off her first pitch to set the Red Raiders up 1-0 over Alabama softball at the top of the fourth inning. A groundout to Jena Young and two fly outs to Audrey Vandagriff closed the top of the inning.
With Kristen White in scoring position and two outs on the board, Jena Young flied out to centerfield to close the third inning scoreless for Alabama softball vs Texas Tech.
Mia Williams got things going with a single up left centerfield and Mihyia Davis advanced off a hit by pitch to the hand. A pop up to Salen Hawkins, strikeout by Jocelyn Briski and fly out to Jena Young stranded the two at the top of the third inning.
Marlie Giles popped up to shortstop, Ana Roman struck out looking and Audrey Vandagriff grounded out to first to close the second inning scoreless.
Kaitlyn Terry singled after a groundout to Ambrey Taylor, but a strikeout and groundout to Jena Young closed the top of the second inning scoreless.
Jena Young grounded out to first, setting Brooke Wells up at the plate. A foul was called, but Alabama softball challenged the call for a hit-by-pitch. Video appears that the ball may have grazed Wells’ hand, but it was not deemed indisputable. The Crimson Tide now has just one challenge remaining at the bottom of the first inning.
Wells and Alexis Pupillo struck out swinging to close the first inning scoreless.
A pair of singles got Texas Tech in scoring position but couldn’t capitalize before the end of the first inning. Jena Young will step up to the plate hoping to strike first for Alabama softball at the bottom of the first inning.
Jocelyn Briski will get the start as Alabama softball faces do-or-die matchup with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders will likely switch between NiJaree Canady and Kaitlyn Terry.
Alabama will be the designated home team this time around.
Mia Williams shot a leadoff, walk-off home run to give Texas Tech the 5-4 win.
The Crimson Tide and Red Raiders will now face a do-or-die matchup to advance to the Women’s College World Series finals.
Just when the Crimson Tide needed her, Jena Young shot a two-run homer to tie Alabama softball 4-4 with Texas Tech at the top of the seventh inning.
NiJaree Canady steps in the circle in relief of Kaitlyn Terry with one out on the board. Alexis Pupillo hit an infield single, but Alabama couldn’t capitalize as Texas Tech has three outs to take the lead before extra innings are forced.
A leadoff line out to Audrey Vandagriff, a groundout to Abby Duchscherer and a strikeout leads Alabama softball to its final three outs as the Crimson Tide trails 4-2 to Texas Tech.
Ana Roman singled down right field after a fly out from Marlie Giles to get on base. Audrey Vandagriff struck out looking, and Ambrey Taylor lined out to close the top of the sixth inning trailing 4-2 to Texas Tech.
The Crimson Tide will have three more outs to prevent an if-necessary game vs. Texas Tech.
Audrey Vandagriff was inches away from saving a two-run homer by Texas Tech’s Taylor Pannell. The Red Raiders lead 4-2 over Alabama softball at the close of the fifth inning.
Kristen White grounded out to Kaitlyn Terry in the circle, as Jena Young flew out to centerfield to follow.
Brooke Wells took a pitch to the head to advance to first, but Alexis Pupillo struck out swinging to end the top of the fifth inning with Alabama softball tied 2-2 with Texas Tech. Abby Duchscherer has replaced Wells at first base to start the bottom of the fifth inning.
In her first Women’s College World Series appearance, freshman Vic Moten struck out NiJaree Canady swinging and Mia Williams looking to close the bottom of the fourth inning in relief of Jocelyn Briski.
After a leadoff line out to Salen Hawkins, Jocelyn Briski walked her first batter of the World Series, followed by a single down left field to get Texas Tech in scoring position.
With two on and one out, freshman Vic Moten relieved Briski in the circle for her first Women’s College World Series appearance.
Marlie Giles ties things up with a leadoff home run to set Alabama up 2-2 with Texas Tech at the top of the fourth inning.
Kaitlyn Terry steps back in the circle for NiJaree Canady after the play.
A fly out and groundout later, Ambrey Taylor singled, but was tagged out to close the top of the fourth inning.
Lauren Allred shot the first home run of the day, a solo shot down left field to put Texas Tech up 2-1 over Alabama softball with two outs at the bottom of the third inning.
Jackie Lis reached first base off a single, but a strikeout left her stranded.
Kristen White had a leadoff single down left field. Jena Young and Brooke Wells struck out swinging. Alexis Pupillo grounded out to second to close the top of the third inning as Alabama softball remains tied 1-1 with Texas Tech.
Taylor Pannell and Kaitlyn Terry singled to get two runners on, met with an RBI double by Hailey Toney to tie Alabama 1-1 with two outs at the bottom of the second. A fly out to Kristen White stranded two in scoring position at the end of the inning.
Marlie Giles ran home off a sac fly by Audrey Vandagriff to get Alabama softball up 1-0 vs. Texas Tech. Ambrey Taylor and Salen Hawkins struck out to close the top of the second inning.
Marlie Giles got things going with a single through the left side, pushed into scoring position of a single by Ana Roman and advancing off the throw.
The play ensued the first pitching change of the day for Texas Tech. Kaitlyn Terry was relieved by NiJaree Canady after allowing two hits in one inning in the circle.
In her third-straight start, Jocelyn Briski struck out the side in 12 pitches for a dominant start vs. Texas Tech heading into the second inning.
It’s the first time Texas Tech was retired in order to start a game since April 2022.
Jena Young took her first out of the Women’s College World Series, fouling out before Brooke Wells struck out and Alexis Pupillo grounded out to second to close the top of the first inning scoreless vs. Texas Tech.
Alabama softball ace Jocelyn Briski will once again get the start for the Crimson Tide. She’ll face off vs. Texas Tech’s Kaitlyn Terry in the Women’s College World Series semifinal.
Alabama and Texas Tech have not met since 2017, when the Crimson Tide swept the Red Raiders with back-to-back wins, including a six-inning run-rule shutout.
Alabama softball vs. Texas Tech will air on ESPN. It can be streamed on platforms such as Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Location: Devon Park, Oklahoma City
Alabama will face Texas Tech in the semifinal round at 6:06 p.m. CT Monday, June 1 and, if necessary, a second game will follow. The Crimson Tide needs one win to advance to the Women’s College World Series championship, while Texas Tech would need to win twice to knock Alabama out and advance.
The 2026 Women’s College World Series runs from May 28 to June 4/5 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Here’s the full schedule for the Women’s College World Series.
All times Central
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.

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