Alabama Softball SEC Home Opener
Wedding Party
Brooke Ellestad
#0 | IF
Accolades 2025 Softball America Preseason Top 100 - #64 2025 D1Softball D100 Preseason Player Rankings - #14 Third Base Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year (2024) All-Sun Belt First Team (2024) Two-time All-Summit League (2022-23) Summit League Freshman of the Year (2022) 2022 NFCA Freshman of the Year Finalist 2025 Has started 15 games Has two multi-hit performances in a pair of wins over No. 22 Washington, including a go-ahead three run homer in game two vs. the Huskies (Feb. 8) Finished the Easton Bama Bash (Feb. 21-23) with three consecutive two-hit games, including a 2-for-2 day with a run scored and an RBI vs. Virginia Tech 2024 (Louisiana) Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Led the team with 54 RBIs Tallied 41 hits with a .398 average Had 19 multiple-hit games, along with 13 multiple-RBI games Totaled 54 RBIs, including nine home runs 2022-23 (University of St. Thomas) Back-to-back 50 hit seasons Two-time All-Summit League honoree 2022 Summit League Freshman of the Year Finalist for the 2022 NFCA Freshman of the Year Tallied 115 hits in 285 at bats across two seasons Prep/Club Highlights Attended Kimberly High School Tallied 109 base hits in 202 at bats in her senior year Totaled 80 RBIs, including 22 home runs
Kennedy Marceaux
#1 | IF
Accolades 2025 Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team 2025 Has appeared in eight games, including six starts Was 2-for-4 vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 9) including a three-run home run Was 6-for-10 over four games played at the Easton Bama Bash, including a pair of doubles and a three-run home run Prep/Club Highlights 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year – Louisiana Played in the 2024 PGF High School All-American Game No. 8 ranked player in 2024 class by Extra Innings Softball Two-time Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee (2022-23) PGF All-American Seventh-place finish at PGF Nationals Three-time LSCA First Team All-State (2021-23) LSWA MVP and First Team All-State (2023) Two-time LSWA All-State Honorable Mention (2021-22) 2023 LHSAA Division III Non-Select Most Outstanding Player Three-time District 6-3A First Team shortstop (2021-23) Two-time District MVP (2022-23) All-Metro (2023) All-Parish MVP and All-Parish shortstop (2021) Two-time First Team All-Acadiana (2021-22)
Kristen White
#3 | OF
2025 Has started 14 games Scored twice and had a pair of stolen bases against Western Michigan (Feb. 9) Batted 6-for-11 (.545) at the Easton Bama Bash (Feb. 21-23), scoring five times and swiping three stolen bases 2024 Started 39 games Returned from injury to make her season debut vs. Western Carolina (Feb. 23) Had two hits and scored twice in the 15-0 run rule win over UAB (Feb. 25) Was 2-for-2 with a run scored in game two vs. Florida (March 10) Posted her third multi-hit game of the season at Florida State (March 13), going 2-for-3 batting ninth Had a hit in all three games of the Kentucky series (March 28-30) Came in at No. 5 on SportsCenter's Top 10 for a running catch at the wall in the series finale vs. Ole Miss (April 7) Was 4-for-6 at the plate over the Tennessee series (April 26-28), driving in the winning run in the game three victory Was 5-for-10 (.500) in NCAA Regional play, including a 3-for-3 day with three runs scored in the championship game against Southeastern (May 19) Had two multi-hit performances in Super Regionals vs. Tennessee, driving in the game-winning run in the 14th inning of game two (May 25)
Kinley Pate
#6 | OF
2025 Has appeared in 10 games primarily as a pinch runner, scoring in three games Earned her first hit as a member of the Crimson Tide vs. Drake (Feb. 22) 2024 Appeared in 43 games primarily as a pinch runner, scoring in 18 of them Scored a run in her Crimson Tide debut against Longwood (Feb. 9) Scored the game-winning run in Alabama's shutout over Virginia Tech (March 22) Scored a run at the Women's College World Series against UCLA (May 30) 2023 (Samford) Appeared in 36 games, including 17 starts Scored 13 runs and second on the team with eight stolen bases in nine attempts Prep Highlights Attended Northside High School in Northport, Alabama Hit .523 with 25 RBIs and 68 stolen bases, earning First Team All-State honors as a senior Four-year leadoff hitter
Catelyn Riley
#7 | RHP
2025 Has appeared in 11 games, starting in seven Went 2-0 across three appearances at the Candrea Classic, including a complete-game win over No. 22 Washington (Feb. 8) Threw 4.2 innings to earn a win over Ohio State (Feb. 15) with just one run allowed and five strikeouts Earned the win with 3.0 innings pitched vs. Jacksonville State (Feb. 18) 2022-24 (Ole Miss) Appeared in 86 total games Had a 2.96 ERA through 267.1 innings pitched Totaled 171 strikeouts Held a 24-18 record Helped lead Ole Miss to the NCAA Tournament all three seasons Prep/Club Highlights East Tennessee AAA Miss Softball (2019) All-State selection as a sophomore (2019) Pitched 215 innings with a 1.62 ERA (2019) Two-time all-district and all-region honoree (2018-19) Recorded 162 innings pitched with a 1.77 ERA (2018) Personal Information Born May 27, 2003 Daughter of Spencer and Beth Riley Father Spencer was starting center on Tennessee’s 1998 championship football team
Abby Duchscherer
#10 | IF
Accolades 2025 Easton Bama Bash MVP 2025 Has started 12 games at first base Led the team with a .714 batting average (10-for-14) over five games at the Easton Bama Bash (Feb. 21-23), with five of those hits coming in two meetings against Virginia Tech 2024 Started 46 games Led the team with eight hits at the Buzz Classic (Feb. 8-10), including a three-hit performance against Longwood Posted her second three-hit performance of the season against St. Thomas (Feb. 16) Scored twice and hit a two-run home run against North Alabama (Feb. 21) Ended the Green & Gold Classic with a pair of three-hit performances against UNA (Feb. 24) and UAB (Feb. 25), including a career-best five RBIs vs. the Blazers Hit a two-run home run as part of a 2-for-3 day at the plate vs. Arizona (March 1) Was 2-for-4 with a solo home run at Florida State (March 13) Went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in game two at Georgia (March 16) Hit a two-run double that made the difference in Alabama's 2-0 win over Texas A&M in game one (April 13) Had two hits against LSU at the SEC Tournament (May 8) 2023 Appeared in 32 games, including five starts Got her first career hit against Indiana (Feb. 11), an RBI double Made her first career start vs. Samford (Feb. 22), including a fourth-inning single and a run scored Prep/Club Highlights Attended Kindred High School, played travel ball for the Minnesota Renegades
Larissa Preuitt
#11 | OF
Accolades Second Team All-SEC (2023) SEC Freshman of the Week (May 8, 2023) 2025 Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team 2025 Has started all 16 games Led the team with eight hits on opening weekend (Feb. 7-9), batting 8-for-14 (.571) with seven runs scored and five RBIs Hit her second career home run against No. 22 Washington (Feb. 8), a fourth-inning solo shot Was 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs against Western Michigan (Feb. 9) Led the team with eight RBIs at the Easton Bama Bash (Feb. 21-23), earning at least one hit in all five games 2024 Played in 47 games, including 23 starts A seventh-inning catch at the outfield wall against Georgia Tech (Feb. 10) was ranked No. 3 on that day's edition of SportsCenter Top 10 Posted her second three-hit performance of the season against St. Thomas (Feb. 16) Drove in two runs in the run-rule win over North Alabama (Feb. 21) Had three RBIs, including a two-run double, in the home win over Samford (March 19) Was 2-for-3 in the game two win over Auburn (May 3), scoring the go-ahead run in the 11th inning Had two hits and scored twice in the NCAA Regional championship against Southeastern (May 19)
Audrey Vandagriff
#12 | OF
Accolades 2025 D1Softball D100 Freshman Watch List 2025 Softball America Freshman Watch List 2025 D1 Softball Clearwater Invitational All-Tournament Team Alabama Single-Game Record: Stolen Bases - 5 vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 9, 2025) 2025 Has started all 16 games Led the team with a .583 batting average at the Candrea Classic (Feb. 7-9), hitting 7-for-12 with six runs scored, six RBIs and nine stolen bases Set an Alabama single-game record with five stolen bases vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 9) Hit .471 (8-for-17) at the Clearwater Invitational (Feb. 14-16) with five runs scored and four RBIs Stole four bases vs. Ohio State, becoming the first player in Alabama history to do so twice in the same season Prep/Club Highlights Played in the 2024 PGF High School All-American Game No. 18 ranked player in 2024 class by Extra Innings Softball PGF All-American Junior Team Three-time First Team All-State Three-time Region Player of the Year Fifth-place finish at 2023 PGF Nationals GACA Junior All-Star Game Georgia Dugout Club Senior All-Star Game Holds school record for home runs and stolen bases National Honors Society
Emily Winstead
#13 | RHP
Accolades 2022 CAA Pitcher of the Year Two-time NFCA All-Region 2025 Easton Bama Bash All-Tournament Team 2025 Has made four appearances, earning a win in relief against Western Michigan (Feb. 9) Earned the save with 1.1 shutout innings to close out a win over Jacksonville State (Feb. 18) Was 3-0 in the circle at the Easton Bama Bash (Feb. 21-23), including a pair of wins over Drake on her senior day 2022-24 (UNC-Wilmington) Two-time NFCA All-Region honoree Led UNCW to two CAA titles in 2022 and 2024 First ever Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year in program history Held a 31-22 record Had a 2.26 ERA across 78 appearances Pitched 353.2 innings Tallied 402 strikeouts Prep/Club Highlights Attended Rocky Mount Academy Earned All-Conference and All-State honors Two-time Conference Player of the Year Held a 0.31 ERA with 167 strikeouts (2020) Personal Information Born Emily Ruth Winstead in Raleigh, North Carolina Daughter of Angela and Kent Winstead Sister, Elizabeth, is a senior on the UNCW softball team
Kendal Clark
#15 | UTIL
2025 Has appeared in five games Earned a hit in her first at-bat vs. Southern Utah (Feb. 21) after returning from injury Was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored in game one of the doubleheader vs. Drake (Feb. 22) 2024 Played in 43 games, including 35 starts Went a combined 4-for-11 (.364) at the Buzz Classic (Feb. 8-10) including a 2-for-3 day in the weekend finale against Georgia Tech Her first Crimson Tide RBI came on a third-inning double against St. Thomas (Feb. 17) Hit her first Alabama home run as a pinch hitter at UAB (Feb. 25), a two-run shot in the third inning Had a pinch-hit single and later came around to score in the series finale vs. Florida (March 11) Scored three times and drove in two more runs as part of a 2-for-2 day against Samford (March 19) Drove in the game-winning run with a fifth-inning RBI single against Virginia Tech (March 22) Was 3-for-7 (.429) over the Ole Miss series (April 5-7), including a towering three-run home run in the weekend finale Hit a three-run home run in game two vs. Texas A&M (April 14) 2022-23 at Des Moines Area Community College 2022 NJCAA First Team All-American Had 90 hits in 161 at-bats for a .559 batting average Earned 49 extra-base hits, including 20 doubles and 27 home runs Drove in 101 RBIs in 56 games played Had a season-high 18 game hit streak in 2022
Riley Valentine
#17 | C
2025 Has appeared in eight games, starting six 2024 Played in 45 games, including 42 starts Led off the second inning against St. Thomas (Feb. 16) with a solo home run Hit a fifth inning grand slam against Bradley (Feb. 24) Scored twice in the game two win over Kentucky (March 29) Had a hit in all three games in NCAA Regionals, including a go-ahead pinch hit home run in the ninth inning against Southeastern (May 18) 2023 (Texas A&M) Appeared in 40 games with 20 starts Drove in 20 RBIs with nine of her 12 hits going for extra bases, including six home runs Named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 14 Prep Highlights Attended Sandra Day O’Connor High School Four-time all-conference and all-region performer Recorded career numbers in batting average (.450), home runs (14) and RBI (49) in final season Played club softball for Arizona Storm for five years Recognized as 2022 Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American Ranked as the No. 26 overall prospect and No. 10 catcher in Extra Inning's 2022 Extra Elite Top 100
Kali Heivilin
#22 | IF
2025 Has started 15 games at second base Had a hit in all five games at the Clearwater Invitational (Feb. 14-16), including home runs vs. Ohio State and UCLA Hit a two-run home run as part of a 2-for-3 day against Jacksonville State (Feb. 18) Hit home runs in back-to-back games against Southern Utah and Drake at the Easton Bama Bash (Feb. 21-23) 2024 Started all 59 games Ended the Buzz Classic on a four-game hit streak, including a career-best five RBIs as part of a 2-for-3 day against Longwood (Feb. 9) Hit an inside-the-park home run against St. Thomas (Feb. 16) Hit the game-ending RBI single in the run-rule win over North Alabama (Feb. 21) Smacked a two-run home run that brought in the final runs of Alabama's 4-1 win over Florida State (March 13) Was 2-for-4 in the game three win over Georgia (March 17) Went 2-for-3 with a home run and a triple in the game two win at Kentucky (March 29) Was 2-for-2 with a home run in game one vs. Auburn (May 2) before drawing a career-high three walks in game two (May 3) Had two doubles, two RBIs and drew three walks against LSU at the SEC Tournament (May 8) Had a hit in all three games at the Women's College World Series, including a triple against Duke (May 31), the first triple for any player at the WCWS since 2014
Jocelyn Briski
#23 | RHP
Accolades Two-time SEC Freshman of the Week (April 9, 2024, April 23, 2024) 2025 Softball America Preseason Top 100 - #48 2025 D1Softball D100 Preseason Player Rankings - #63 Overall, #19 Pitchers 2025 Has appeared in 10 games, starting six Earned a complete-game victory in the season opener against No. 22 Washington (Feb. 7), striking out a career-best eight batters Earned the win in the Easton Bama Bash finale vs. Virginia Tech (Feb. 23), holding the Hokies to one run on two hits across 4.2 innings 2024 Appeared in 25 games, including 15 starts Took home a complete-game victory over Georgia Tech (Feb. 9) in her collegiate debut, allowing just one run Earned a win in relief against Longwood (Feb. 10), throwing 4.2 shutout innings Struck out six over 4.2 innings pitched to earn the win over Virginia (Feb. 17) Returned from injury to pitch in relief in game two vs. Florida (March 10) Earned wins in back-to-back midweek games against Samford (March 19) and UAB (March 20), striking out seven against the Bulldogs and not allowing a single batter to reach in 3.0 relief innings against the Blazers Earned a complete-game win in her first SEC start against Ole Miss (April 6), allowing just one unearned run Threw a complete-game win in game two at Arkansas (April 20), scattering six singles while allowing just one run on a wild pitch Threw 5.2 innings as part of a combined shutout with Kayla Beaver in the 11-inning game two win at Auburn (May 3)
Braya Hodgers
#24 | RHP
Accolades 2025 D1Softball D100 Freshman Watch List 2025 Made her Crimson Tide debut in game one of the doubleheader against Drake (Feb. 22), pinch hitting before entering the circle to pitch the final 2.0 innings of the game Prep/Club Highlights 866 career strikeouts at Houston Academy 3a ASWA Softball Pitcher of the Year (2022) 3a ASWA All-State First Team (2022) Dothan Diamond Classic All-Tournament team (2022) Houston Academy record for strikeouts with 296 (2022) 3a State Tournament MVP (2022) 3a State Champions (2022) Maxpreps strikeout leader Top 25 (2022) Central Alabama Scoreboard's Super Softball Honorable Mention (2022) SBLIVE Alabama Athlete of the Week (2022) Alliance Fastpitch All-Tournament 16u Tier 1 (2022) Extra Innings Top 100 2024 Pitchers (2022) ASWA All-State Second Team (2021) Montgomery Advertiser top 10 Area Softball Players (2021) Montgomery Advertiser top Athlete of the Week (2021) Dothan Eagle Super 12 (2021-2022) Area Champions (2021-2022) Montgomery Advertiser Player of the Week (2020) Maxprep top 50 Home Run Hitters (2020) Dothan Super 12 Honorable Mention (2019)
Alexis Pupillo
#31 | UTIL
Accolades 2025 Softball America Preseason Top 100 - #54 2025 D1Softball Preseason Player Rankings - #74 Overall, #5 Catchers Two-time First Team All-MVC (2023-24) MVC Freshman of the Year (2023) 2025 Has started all 16 games Batted 7-for-14 (.500) with five RBIs on opening weekend, earning at least one hit in all five games at the Candrea Classic (Feb. 7-9) Earned at least one hit in four of the five games at the Clearwater Invitational (Feb. 14-16), including two-hit performances vs. Liberty and Oklahoma State Hit a three-run home run in the win over Jacksonville State (Feb. 18) 2023-24 (Northern Iowa) Two-time First-Team All-MVC (2023-24) MVC Freshman of the Year (2023) Appeared and started in 93 games with the Panthers Tallied 107 hits in 280 at-bats Totaled a .382 batting average in her career Hit 98 RBIs, including 35 home runs Prep/Club Highlights Attended Crystal Lake South High School Led team to two regional championships in 2019 and 2022 Named to the Fox Valley All-Conference team in 2019,2021, and 2022 Named to the 3A Illinois All-State team in 2019, 2021, and 2022 Broke school records for intentional walks, home runs, and batting average Personal Information Daughter of Phil and Linda Pupillo One younger sibling, Anthony
Marlie Giles
#34 | C
Accolades 2025 Softball American Preseason Top 100 - #85 2025 Has started 13 games Had two hits and two RBIs in the win over Michigan State (Feb. 7) Was 3-for-4 with four RBIs vs. Ohio State (Feb. 15), including an RBI double and a three-run home run 2024 Appeared in 40 games, including 32 starts Was 7-for-10 (.700) with five RBIs and three home runs at the Green & Gold Classic, with two of those homers coming in the weekend finale against UAB (Feb. 25) A fourth-inning solo home run proved the difference in the 1-0 shutout victory over Arizona (March 2) Was 2-for-2 with a double and RBI single in the game three win over Florida (March 11) Hit a solo home run in both games one and two at Kentucky (March 28-29) Returned from injury as a defensive replacement all three games of the Auburn series (May 2-4) Following the injury, took her first at-bats against LSU at the SEC Tournament (May 8), hitting an 11th-inning double Started two games in NCAA Regionals (May 18-19), earning three hits and scoring two runs
Salen Hawkins
#47 | IF
Accolades 2024 NFCA Third Team All-South Region 2025 D1Softball D100 Preseason Player Rankings - #14 Second Base 2025 Has played in 14 games, including eight starts Had multi-hit performances against Liberty (Feb. 14) and Oklahoma State (Feb. 16) at the Clearwater Invitational 2024 (Mississippi State) Earned NFCA Third Team All-South Region honors Played in 53 of 54 games, and started in 52 of them Fifth highest batting average on the team with .294 Fifth highest RBI total with 26 Had 11 multi-hit games Prep/Club Highlights Attended Desert Vista High Schol Ranked as the No. 21 middle infielder by Extra Inning Softball (2023) First Team All-Region team (2021) Batted .545 as a freshman (2020) Played travel ball for the Arizona Storm Hit .677 at the plate during her first summer with the team Personal Information Born Salen Hawkins on June 10, 2005, in Arcadia, California Daughter of Akiko Saggio and Steven Hawkins Has two sisters, Marisa and Damara Saggio
Alea Johnson
#55 | RHP
2025 Has made four appearances, including one start 2024 Appeared in 21 games, including three starts Made her Alabama debut with 1.2 shutout relief innings int he win over Longwood (Feb. 9) Earned a win over Southern Indiana (Feb. 18) with 5.1 shutout relief innings, striking out six with just three hits allowed Grabbed her second save of the season with a scoreless seventh inning against Arizona (March 1) and threw 1.1 shutout relief innings in the next day's rematch against the Wildcats (March 2) Earned a win in relief against Florida State (March 13), throwing 3.1 shutout innings with just two hits allowed and a pair of strikeouts Threw a shutout seventh inning in the game two win at Kentucky (March 29) Earned her third save of the season with 2.1 relief innings in the game three win over Ole Miss (April 7) 2023 (LSU) Made 12 appearances, including seven starts, posting a 7-1 record and 1.41 ERA Threw the final 2.0 innings in the Tigers' matchup against national champion Oklahoma, retiring each of the six Sooners she faced Prep Highlights Attended Fairhope High School Two-time 7A Pitcher of the Year Played club softball with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, winning the 2022 PGF 18U Championship alongside current Tide teammates Kenleigh Cahalan, Marlie Giles and Larissa Preuitt Was ranked No. 23 in her signing class by Softball America and was tied for seventh in the Extra Inning Softball rankings
Mari Hubbard
#81 | IF
2025 Has appeared in eight games, including four starts Hit a two-run triple in her first career start vs. Washington (Feb. 7) Prep/Club Highlights Won 2024 PGF 18U Championship Played in the 2024 PGF High School All-American Game No. 22 ranked player in 2024 class by Extra Inning Softball Tennessee Valley High School Softball Terrific 20 (1st Team) (2021-2023) AHSAA North-South All-Star Softball Game (2023) PGF Futures All-American Regional Finalist (2023) Alabama Sports Writer Association 7A All-State Team (2nd Team, Utility) (2021-2022) AL 7A Region 7 All Area Team (2022) Extra Inning Softball All Summer 14u Team (2020-2021) USA Softball High Performance Program (HPP) Region 4 (2021) National Club Player of the Week, Extra Inning Softball (2020) USA Elite Select, All American Games Direct Select (2020) Softball Youth All American, Silver Slugger Recipient, Home Run Derby Runner Up (2019) PGF Premier 12u National Champion (2019)
Lauren Johnson
#88 | OF
Accolades SEC Freshman of the Week (Feb. 12, 2024) 2025 Has appeared in nine games, including two starts Drove in a career-high four RBIs on a double and her first career home run in game one of the doubleheader vs. Drake (Feb. 22) 2024 Played in 47 games, including 31 starts Led all Tide players with a .545 batting average at the Buzz Classic (Feb. 8-10), including a pair of multi-hit performances against Longwood Was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a a pair of stolen bases vs. Western Carolina (Feb. 23) Came in as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded in game two at Kentucky (March 29) and hit a two-run single as part of the winning effort A pinch-hit single in the 14th inning of game two of Super Regionals against Tennessee (May 25) eventually led to scoring the game-winning run Prep Highlights 2022 Middle Tennessee Softball Player of the Year Tied for 9th at 2022 18U Alliance National Championship Broke Centennial High School records for RBIs, home runs, runs scored and career batting average 2021 District Rookie of the Year 2022 District MVP 2022 First Team All-Midstate