‘Come and Take It’ is the Alabama softball team’s battle cry. When you hear that, you know you’re in for a good game. If you’re not an avid softball fan, then let us tell you that the softball team at Alabama is one of the best in college softball. They have won multiple national championships and are one of the most competitive teams in NCAA softball. The students who play softball on this team are some of the most talented athletes in the country, and their journey to success is truly inspiring.
If you want to get into the mind of an Alabama softball player and understand how they go about their day-to-day lives or why they love what they do, we have just the right blog for you. But before getting into the depths of this blog, we’d like to tell you everything about watching an Alabama softball game that’ll help you get the most out of your experience. So without further ado, let’s dive into everything about watching an Alabama softball game – from its roster to fan favorites – and how players keep themselves motivated – whether it’s their coaches or each other – to achieve success as a unit.
Crimson Tide Roster
The Crimson Tide opens its season with a 2-1 record at the Leadoff Classic in Tuscaloosa. The Tide lost one game to Texas A&M but was victorious against Samford, an NCAA Division I program on the FCS level. Nick Saban recently spoke on NCAA rule changes and SEC scheduling, saying that there’s “a lot of parity” in college football right now and he likes the playoff system because it provides four teams a chance to play for a championship.
The Tide is getting bigger with weight changes on its roster as players are bulking up. This is something that Alabama football players have been doing since the 2011 season when their team won the national title. As of this writing, Alabama is still projected as a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. However, nothing is certain until March Madness starts.
Team Highlights
The Alabama softball team has been on a roll this season, winning six straight games and four of their last five. The Crimson Tide’s best performance was a 2-1 victory over Florida State in the Clearwater Invitational.
Alabama’s pitching staff had five shutouts and two no-hitters. Senior Aleshia O’brien had a no-hitter with two perfect innings in the sixth game of the tournament against Florida State. Sophomore Alexandra Cruickshank threw a perfect game against Louisville as well. In the final game of the tournament, Alabama’s freshmen, Haley Fagan, and Lena Toosbuy, each tossed a perfect game against Samford.
However, Alabama’s hitting was inconsistent at times. Sophomore Taylor Edwards hit three home runs in four games but struggled with her consistency throughout the tournament. Sophomore Alex Fox had two hits in the first game of the tournament but struggled to make consistent contact throughout it, while sophomore Jazmyn Williams hit .200 with only one hit in five games played.
In the Easton Bama Bash against Kennesaw State, Edwards was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Fox was 2-for-3 with one double and two RBIs. Fagen and Toosbuy each went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Alabama in its 5-3 loss to Kennesaw State.
Coach’s Corner
After defeating No. 7 Florida State in the final game of the Clearwater Invitational and outlasting Samford 3-2, Alabama Softball is riding high atop the NCAA rankings. The team has had a successful start to the season, winning four consecutive games after beating Samford on May 8. As the Tide continues its march toward a national title, it is vital to keep an eye on its competition.
Recently, Coach Nick Saban spoke on NCAA rule changes and the SEC schedule. He stated that he believes college football and college basketball should be played at similar times of the year to make scheduling easier for both teams. Additionally, he also advocated for an 8- or 16-team playoff system in college football to determine a national champion.
Unfortunately, Alabama players have been bulking up for the upcoming season. One such player is junior pitcher Macie Stewart, who has been using her off-season time to hit more pop flys and become more adept at batting lefty. Stewart is one of many young stars on the team who are poised to make an impact this season.
The Crimson Tide is projected as a 1-seed heading into the NCAA tournament, but nothing can be taken for granted this postseason.
Fan Favorites
The Alabama softball team has taken another step toward the College World Series. The Tide defeated No. 7 Florida State 2-1 on Sunday evening in front of a stunned crowd at the Clearwater Invitational. The win is Alabama’s second win in as many games at the tournament and pushes its record to 6-2 on the season.
This was an outstanding pitching performance for the Tide, with five shutouts and two no-hitters over the course of the tournament.
Alabama finished off Samford 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon, improving to 7-2 on the season. While the hitting was good overall, it wasn’t consistent enough to win every game. This is a young and talented team that will continue to improve as it continues to play postseason baseball.
Coaching Staff
The Alabama softball team is led by head coach Patrick Murphy, who has been with the program since 1999 and has led the Tide to six NCAA tournament appearances and a World Series title in 2012. Murphy’s staff includes associate head coach Bob Bramhall, pitching coach David Clyde, first-base coach Bo DePasse, and hitting coach Keith Moreland.
The Alabama soft craft team has had outstanding success this season with five shutouts and two no-hitters from their talented pitching staff. The team is currently 7-2 on the season, with wins over No. 7 Florida State and Samford. The Crimson Tide is led by junior Kayleigh Ensign, who was recently named SEC Player of the Week after going 12-for-12 with four RBIs in three games. Ensign leads the team in hits (22), RBIs (15), and home runs (3).
Under Murphy’s leadership, Alabama Women’s Athletics has become a source of Bama merchandise for fans across the country. From t-shirts to hats to autographed memorabilia, you can find it all at Tide Gear online shop.
Upcoming Games
The No. 7 Alabama softball team will begin the season on Tuesday, March 7th at 6 p.m. CT against Western Michigan at Tuscaloosa Municipal Stadium. The contest will be streamed via SEC Network+ and can be viewed on laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.
Following that, they will travel to Birmingham for a matchup against UAB on Wednesday, March 8th at 6 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field. The game can be seen live on SEC Network+ and is also available via WatchESPN on computers, tablets, and mobile devices.
The Crimson Tide will then return home for the Bevo Classic against Texas on Friday, March 10th at 4 p.m. CT at Sewell-Deklin Stadium in Austin, TX. That contest can be viewed live on SEC Network+ and via WatchESPN on computers, tablets, and mobile devices.
Finally, they will make their final trip of the season to face Texas State on Saturday, March 11th at 12:30 p.m. CT at Sewell-Deklin Stadium in Huntsville, AL before concluding their 2018 slate with a match-up against Texas on Saturday, March 18th at 6 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field in Birmingham, AL for the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
Conclusion
The Alabama softball team has had many successes over the years, and that hasn’t changed even in an era of Title IX. The Crimson Tide is known for being a difficult opponent for any team, which makes them one of the most respected teams in college softball. If you’re a fan of Alabama softball, let us know why in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
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