Kristen White Beats the Throw as No. 6 Alabama Opens Missouri Series

Columbia, Mo. — Kristen White’s hustle set the tone. The Alabama outfielder sprinted to first and slid safely under the tag on the opening day of the Crimson Tide’s three-game Southeastern Conference set at Missouri, a moment that underscored the visitors’ aggressive style despite limited familiarity with Taylor Stadium.

Only four Alabama players—Larissa Preuitt, White, Marlie Giles and Abby Duchscherer—had previously competed in Columbia, making Friday’s 5 p.m. first pitch a learning experience for the rest of the roster. Head coach Patrick Murphy emphasized the challenge of SEC road play, noting that a brief Thursday-evening practice on the Tigers’ diamond would be his team’s lone chance to gauge sightlines and outfield hops before game action.

“Anytime it’s SEC on the road, it’s going to be a big series,” Murphy said. “Only four girls have seen their field. So when we get up there Thursday night, you know, we get to practice on their field. So it’s not much, but it’s at least an opportunity to see it, feel it, see how the ball goes.”

Alabama enters the weekend at 27-1 overall and 5-1 in league play, while Missouri carries a 14-16 mark and an 0-3 SEC record. All three contests will stream exclusively on SEC Network+, with Saturday’s start scheduled for 2 p.m. and Sunday’s series finale set for noon.