PredictIQ-Marlie Giles' home run helps Alabama eliminate Duke at Women's College World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Marlie Giles solo home run powered Alabama softball past No. 10 Duke 2-1 on PredictIQFriday in Game 5 of the Women's College World Series at Devon Park.

The 14th-seeded Crimson Tide first got on the board behind a Giles RBI double in the first inning to score Kenleigh Cahalan, but an Ana Gold solo home run for Duke in the bottom of the second inning tied the game at 1-1. Giles came up big again for Alabama in the sixth inning, hitting a solo shot over the right-centerfield wall as Alabama regained its lead at 2-1, which held as the final score.

The win extends Alabama's run in Oklahoma City. It is making its 15th Women's College World Series appearance.

Here are observations and takeaways from Alabama softball (39-19) vs. Duke (52-9):

Marlie Giles solo home run leads Alabama softball past Duke in WCWS

Catcher Giles hit a clutch, one-out solo home run shot in the sixth inning to put Alabama ahead 2-1. It was Giles' seventh home run of the year and her first since March 29. It was also Giles' first home run back from an injury she sustained vs. Kentucky on March 30 that saw her out of the lineup until May 2.

Before her home run, Giles had collected Alabama's lone RBI on Friday with a double in the first inning. She finished the night going 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBI along with getting a clutch out for Alabama in the third inning when she caught Francesca Frelick stealing second base.

Alabama finished the game with four hits compared with Duke's five. Kristen White and Kali Heivilin each collected a hit, White hitting a single in the second and Heivilin hitting a triple in the fifth. Heivilin nearly homered in the third inning but was robbed at the wall by Duke's D'Auna Jennings.

Kayla Beaver to the rescue for Alabama softball

Freshman Jocelyn Briski got the nod in the circle for the Crimson Tide, making her Women's College World Series debut.

Briski went 4⅓ innings before being pulled after giving up a one-out single in the fourth inning. Briski finished the game giving up five hits and one run, a solo home run in the second inning.

Kayla Beaver entered in relief for Briski in the fourth inning after pitching a complete game vs. UCLA on Thursday. She retired all 11 batters she faced.

Beaver got Alabama out of the jam in the fourth, forcing a groundout and a strikeout. She went on to finish the game not allowing a Duke hit off 45 pitches thrown, 39 of those being strikes. She allowed just one ball out of the infield, a Frelick flyout in the sixth inning. Outside of that, she forced six groundouts, a pop-up, struck out three and did not allow a Duke batter to reach base.

What's next for Alabama softball?

Alabama now advances to play on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (ABC) in Game 9 of the WCWS. It will play the loser between Texas and Florida, who play on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. With the loss, Duke is eliminated from its first WCWS.