One of the most exciting innings in Alabama softball history came in top of the fifth of a scoreless game against Florida Thursday night in Gainesville. Desperate to shake things up and somehow someway manufacture a run, Tide coach Patrick Murphy went back to old-fashioned small ball and pressured the nation’s top pitcher, sophomore Kelly Barnhill, into an absolute meltdown.
Alabama did nothing through the first four innings. At one point Barnhill struck out nine consecutive Tide batters. Then in the fifth, Bama went on the assault.
The wonderful, wacky fifth
The inning began with Tide freshman Bailey Hemphill—who drew a rare walk from Barnhill.