HUNTINGTON, W. VA. - Alabama softball split its Tuesday doubleheader, falling 5-3 in the opening game against Liberty before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Marshall.

An infield RBI single from Jenna Johnson got Alabama (33-13) on the board in the first inning against Liberty (29-15) before the Flames tied it up in the third with a solo home run. Later in the inning with two in scoring position, a squeeze bunt brought the runner home from third as Liberty took a 2-1 lead. Alabama tied it back up in the next half-inning with an Ashley Prange RBI single and then a Bailey Dowling solo homer in the fifth put the Tide back in the lead, 3-2. The lead was short-lived as a three-run homer from the Flames in the bottom half of the inning swung it aback in their favor, 5-3, which ultimately proved final.

In the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against host Marshall (36-6), it remained scoreless until a leadoff double from Ally Shipman in the sixth led to a two-run home run from Bailey Dowling. Later with two out and a runner at third, a fielding error extended the inning as an unearned run came home to make it 3-0. The Tide had the bases loaded with two out in the seventh but couldn't add to its three-run lead. The Thundering Herd drove in a two-out run in the bottom of the seventh to break up the shutout and bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Montana Fouts (17-7) closed out the game for her fourth save of the season and the 3-1 win.

Shipman and Dowling each had four combined hits between the two games, including a pair of home runs from Dowling. Lauren Esman (4-2) got the win in game two, retiring the first 13 batters before giving up her first hit, while Fouts closed it out for her fourth save of the season.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"I think today was just a win-win for the game of softball. To see all these people out here on a Tuesday afternoon to watch a college softball game was incredible for all three teams today."

From Montana Fouts

"I'm always happy to play the game anywhere, but it's really special being home in front of my family, friends and especially all these little girls because I used to be just like that."

Highlights

• Alabama finishes the non-conference portion of its regular season schedule with a 24-7 record
• Bailey Dowling's three hits vs. Liberty ties her career high, doing so earlier this season vs. North Alabama (March 14, 2023)
• Dowling also extended her current reached-base streak to six games
• Ally Shipman's three hits against Marshall ties her season high, previously doing so against UAB (March 22, 2023)
• Montana Fouts' save in game two was the 15th of her career, putting her one shy of Shelley Laird (1999-2002) and Alexis Osorio (2015-18) in second place on the UA career record books with 16
• Fouts also improved her career strikeout total to 1,102, just 11 away from second-place Stephanie VanBrakle (2003-06) with 1,113

Scoring Summary vs. Liberty

T1 | Ally Shipman scored from third on an infield single from Jenna Johnson (1-0, 2 Out)

B3 | A Sierra Kersten solo home run tied the game (1-1, 1 Out)

B3 | Another Liberty run scored on a squeeze bunt to give them the lead (1-2, 1 Out)

T4 | An Ashley Prange single up the middle drove in Marlie Giles (2-2, 2 Out)

T5 | Bailey Dowling roped a solo homer down the left field line (3-2, 2 Out)

B5 | A three-run home run put Liberty back in the lead (3-5, 1 Out)

Scoring Summary vs. Marshall

T6 | Bailey Dowling crushed a two-run home run to left center (2-0, 0 Out)

T6 | A two-out fielding error led to an unearned run for the Tide (3-0, 2 Out)

Up Next: vs. Auburn (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

• Friday, April 21 - 9 p.m. ET - SEC Network
• Saturday, April 22 - 4 p.m. ET - SEC Network
• Sunday, April 23 - 12:30 p.m. ET - ESPN