Late rally catapults Lady Jag Softball to 13-0 win

The Northridge Lady Jags softball team traveled to Carrollton on Thursday afternoon and returned to Tuscaloosa with a 13-0 Opening Day victory. After grabbing a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Lady Jags were quiet until waking up and scoring 11 runs over the final three innings to claim a big win for Game 1 of the 2026 season. Millie Tucker got the start in the circle and went the distance to pick up her first win of the season.

After a leadoff out for Northridge, Riley Hollingshead drew a walk and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Anna Grace Reed singled to center, advancing Hollingshead to third. Anna Cate Henderson followed with a ground out to short stop, scoring Hollingshead and advancing Reed to second. After Reed stole third, Mary Hayes drew a walk, putting runners at the corners. Sarah Copeland line drive to short scored Reed and advanced Mary Hayes Henderson to second. After a wild pitch advanced Mary Hayes to third and Copeland to second. Tucker drew a walk to load the bases, but a fly ball to center ended the top of the inning with the Lady Jags holding a 2-0 lead.

Home plate didn’t see any action again until the top of the fifth, when Northridge added one more run, to take a 3-0 lead. Reed led off the inning with a line drive to center. After Reed stole second, then third, the Lady Jags picked up their first out of the inning. Reed would score on a passed ball with a 2-1 count, but no more runs would be scored.

Northridge kept the scorekeeper busy in the top of the sixth inning, scoring six runs. Kenzlee Ringo led off with a ground ball to the pitcher, advanced to second on an error and eventually stole third. Madelyn Abston drew a walk and stole second. Hollingshead drew a walk to load the bases. The Lady Jags made it 5-0 when Reed doubled to left field, scoring Ringo and Abston, with Hollingshead advancing to third. Anna Cate doubled to left, allowing Hollingshead and Reed to cross the plate for a 7-0 Northridge lead. After a fly out to center, Copeland doubled to left to score Anna Cate, making it 8-0 in favor of the Lady Jags. Copeland advanced to third on a ground out to short from Tucker and scored on a ground out to short. That was the final run of the inning, giving the Lady Jags a 9-0 lead.

One more run would have ended the game in the sixth, but since that didn’t happen, the Lady Jags took the opportunity to put four more runs on the board in the top of the seventh. After fly out to center, Hollingshead singled to left and subsequently stole second. Reed singled to center to drive in Hollingshead, for the 10-0 lead. Anna Cate was hit by pitch, which advanced Reed to second. Mary Hayes singled to left, scoring Reed for the 11-0 lead. Anna Cate advanced to second on the play, who then headed to third on the throw. After the second out, Anna Cate scored on a passed ball and Mary Hayes took third. That play gave Northridge a 12-0 lead. Tucker followed with a triple to center that plated Mary Hayes, making the score 13-0. A ground out ended the inning for the Lady Jags. The defense held the Lady Pirates scoreless for the final time and the Northridge claimed the 13-0 win on the first day of the season.

The Lady Jags had a great day at the plate, collecting 13 runs on 15 hits. Reed went 4-for-5 and Copeland went 3-for-5 on the afternoon. Mary Hayes Henderson and Ringo collected two hits each. Hollingshead, Anna Cate Henderson, Tucker and Pate tallied one hit apiece. Reed scored four runs. Hollingshead crossed the plate three times and Anna Cate Henderson scored two runs. Abston, Mary Hayes Henderson, Copeland and Ringo added one run each. Reed and Anna Cate Henderson collected three RBIs each. Copeland accounted to two RBIs. Mary Hayes Henderson, Tucker and Pate were credited with one RBI each.

Reed and Ringo thieved three bases apiece. Pate, Abston and Hollingshead stole one base each.

Tucker struck out 10 batters in the complete game performance. Tucker surrendered four hits, but gave up no runs.

The Lady Jags will see plenty of action Friday and Saturday, as they are slated to play three games in the Holy Spirit tournament.