Larissa Preuitt Grand Slam Lifts Alabama Softball to Series-Opening Win over Missouri

One of the major frustrations for Alabama softball on offense this season has been the inability to bring runners in with the bases loaded. 

That frustration turned to elation with Larissa Preuitt's two-out at-bat in the fourth inning Friday night at Missouri. The true freshman stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and lifted a ball over the right field wall (with a little assistance from the wind and the right fielder's glove) for her first career home run and Alabama's first grand slam of the season. 

Behind a near-perfect performance in the circle from Montana Fouts, the four runs from Preuitt's grand slam was more than enough for Fouts on the way to the 4-0 victory. The fifth-year pitcher finished with 12 strikeouts, including the final out of the game to strand a runner in scoring position. 

"It was a dominating performance from Montana and the biggest hit in Larissa’s career so far," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said in a press release. "It couldn’t have happened at a better time, we absolutely needed it. For her to come through as a freshman with two outs and the bases loaded was huge. The trajectory of the team is looking good.”

Fouts got out to a hot start, striking our six of the first seven batters she faced, and it was a sign of things to come for the game. The Missouri hitters stayed off balance all game, only managing two hits and one walk. The Tigers didn't have a batter reach third base until the final inning. 

It was Fouts' fourth complete-game shutout of the season and the seventh time she's reached double-digit strikeouts in an outing.  

The fourth inning got started with a leadoff walk from Bailey Dowling. Ally Shipman and Emma Broadfoot also had hits in the inning to set up the grand slam. Preuitt's home run was Alabama's first grand slam since KJ Haney's against South Carolina in March 2022. The Crimson Tide finished with seven hits, including two from the birthday girl Kenleigh Cahalan. 

Alabama improves to 25-10 (3-4 SEC) on the season and will be going for the series win against the Tigers Saturday at 5 p.m.