Skylar Wallace did it all Sunday.
The Alabama softball sophmore made three spectacular defensive plays. She came up big on the base paths that led to Alabama runs. Wallace also went 3-for-3 with three runs to lead the Crimson Tide’s 9-1 win against Arkansas in six innings.
Wallace has been the undisputed leader for Alabama (14-8, 2-1 SEC) this season, hitting .415 with 18 RBIs and 27 runs scored and nine stolen bases.
“Came out Friday and lost 1-0 and that kind of hurt a little bit,” Wallace said. “I went through the film that we had and watched my at-bats and saw little things I could fix. I didn’t want to add extra pressure today so I just added little adjustments in the cage. It wasn’t perfect but making that adjustment in there shows you are going to make the adjustment (on the field) and I came out ready to hit.”
The shortstop bailed out starting pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, who loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs, by turning a double play to end an Arkansas threat.
Wallace got the Crimson Tide fired up in the bottom of the first after leading off with a single. When KB Sides followed with a single, Wallace rounded second and sprinted to third. She scored on a Bailey Hemphill sac fly.
“I know KB and how she thinks,” Wallace said. “I knew she was going to put the ball in play. I rounded second and (the left fielder) kind of came up slow and I just kept going.
Wallace made another clutch defensive play in the third inning, scooping a grounder to her left and throwing out the runner for the out.
“Lexi is working her butt off to get outs and she knows she can trust her defense. I just wanted to make the plays I needed to make to get out of the game.”
Wallace moved from second base to shortstop this season after Claire Jenkins was injured in the preseason (ACL). It’s a position Wallace played in hight school and has gotten reacquainted with.
“It’s been a little bit of a transition,” she said. “I think after a few games I’ve got the feel of it and I’m ready to go.”
Kilfoyl (6-4) got the win, allowing one run on four hits in six innings. Alexis Mack was big at the plate with a 3-for-3 day with a three-run triple. Sides had two hits and two RBIs while Karla Hice knocked in the game-winning run, for the second straight game, in a pinch-hit role.
Alabama hosts the T-Town Showdown next week. Alabama takes on BYU at 6 p.m. Thurday and Texas at 6 p.m. Friday.
