By Adeniyi Precious 
Alabama Softball wrapped up the Candrea Classic with a solid 4-1 record, but while the bats were hot, the pitching left something to be desired.
Weekend Recap:
Friday: Beat Washington 5-1, then took down Michigan State 6-2.
Saturday: Another win over Washington (7-3), but got crushed by Arizona 9-1 in five innings.
Sunday: Bounced back in a big way, beating Western Michigan 14-5 in six innings.
Sunday’s Offensive Explosion
Coach Patrick Murphy made a key lineup change, putting Audrey Vandagriff in the leadoff spot, and she made an immediate impact. She walked, stole second, and helped spark a fast start for the Tide.
But the lead didn’t last long—starter Catelyn Riley got rocked early, giving up three runs before getting pulled. Enter Emily Winstead, who steadied the ship and kept Bama in the game.
Vandagriff continued to dominate, knocking in two runs in the second inning and then stealing second and third base. She finished the game with a school-record five stolen bases.
Larissa Preuitt also had a monster game, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two doubles. Kennedy Marceaux made the most of her first start, blasting a three-run homer.
Winstead pitched 5.2 innings in relief, striking out six and walking none. Solid numbers, but against a weak WMU squad, it’s hard to tell if she’s ready for tougher competition.
Pitching Concerns
Riley struggled and doesn’t seem like an everyday starter.
Jocelyn Briski is the team’s No. 1, but she hasn’t shown the dominance of past Alabama aces.
Alea Johnson got roughed up in her lone appearance.
Braya Hodges might be headed for a redshirt season.
Weekend MVPs:
Audrey Vandagriff: 7-for-12 (.583), 6 RBIs, 9 stolen bases
Larissa Preuitt: 8-for-14 (.571), 5 RBIs, 4 stolen bases
Up Next:
No midweek games, which is good because Alabama is heading to Clearwater, FL, for a tough tournament. Four of their next five opponents were in last year’s postseason, and two made the Women’s College World Series.
Next Games:
Friday, Feb 14 vs. San Diego State
Friday, Feb 14 vs. Liberty
Saturday, Feb 15 vs. Ohio State
Saturday, Feb 15 vs. UCLA
Sunday, Feb 16 vs. Oklahoma State
Alabama’s offense looks dangerous, but if the Tide wants to compete at the highest level, they’ll need someone to step up in the circle.