| GAME THREAD Softball loses road series against Auburn late in game three.

[UA Press Release]

THIS WEEKEND: #12/15 ALABAMA (18-5) AT #13/13 AUBURN (25-5)
Auburn, Ala. – Jane B. Moore Field

• Friday, March 16 – 6 p.m. CT
• Saturday, March 17 – 7 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
• Sunday, March 18 – 5 p.m. CT (SEC Network)

SCOUTING ALABAMA

• Alabama is 18-5 heading into week six after a 5-0 weekend at the Easton Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa and a 3-1 win over Georgia Tech Wednesday in Atlanta.
• Alabama is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 15 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll this week. Alabama has played six games against ranked opponents so far this season.
• The Crimson Tide defense boasts a .983 fielding percentage, which ranks second in the SEC trailing only Florida at .986. The .983 clip would be the best fielding percentage in program history, surpassing last year's record percentage of .978.
• The offense is led by freshman Kaylee Tow, who is 23-for-60 (.383) at the plate. Twelve of her 23 hits have gone for extra bases, including a team-leading five home runs. Sophomore Bailey Hemphill has reached base safely in 14 of her last 15 games, drawing a team-leading 14 walks while hitting 20-for-58 (.345) with a team-leading 21 RBIs. Sophomore Elissa Brown is 15-for-15 in stolen bases, batting 14-for-44 (.318) with 14 runs scored.
• Senior Alexis Osorio has thrown 53.2 of the team's 146.2 innings in the circle, fanning 95 batters over that stretch, an average of 1.77 per inning. Freshman Madison Preston leads the staff with a 1.43 ERA, allowing just 10 earned runs over 49.0 innings, while junior Courtney Gettins boasts a team-leading seven wins along with a 1.59 ERA over 44.0 innings.

LAST TIME OUT: PAIR OF HOME RUNS LIFT ALABAMA SOFTBALL OVER GEORGIA TECH

Alabama softball posted a 3-1 win over Georgia Tech Wednesday night, with the

Crimson Tide's three runs coming on a pair of hard-hit home runs backed up by a strong performance in the circle.

Alabama (18-5) took the lead over Georgia Tech (14-8) in the top of the second inning with a monster two-run home run from junior Reagan Dykes, her second long ball in her last four appearances. The Yellow Jackets cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single but sophomore Bailey Hemphill added some insurance with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. Madison Preston (6-1) earned the win in the circle, throwing 6.1 innings with just one run allowed before senior Alexis Osorio picked up her fourth save, striking out the final two batters in the seventh inning to cap the 3-1 victory.

HISTORIC WEEK IN THE CIRCLE EARNS OSORIO TRIO OF AWARDS|

Senior pitcher Alexis Osorio's historic weekend in the circle at the Easton Crimson Classic has earned recognition at both the conference and national level. She is this week's Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week, USA Softball Player of the Week and the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of the Week.

This is Osorio's second career award from the NFCA and USA Softball, after earning the weekly accolades on March 14 last season. It is the seventh NFCA weekly award in program history and 10th from USA Softball, but just the sixth time a UA player has won both awards in the same week. The conference accolade is the second this season for Osorio and the sixth of her career. Overall, Alabama has earned SEC Pitcher of the Week 38 times in program history.

MURPHY EARNS 1,000TH WIN AT ALABAMA

Head Coach Patrick Murphy, currently in his 20th season at the helm of the Crimson Tide, earned his 1,000th win as Alabama's head coach last Friday against Boston College. A handful of SEC coaches, including Murphy, already had 1,000 career wins between multiple head coaching stops but no coach had earned 1,000 wins entirely at an SEC institution. Last season, Murphy earned his 1,000th career victory as a head coach, including his time at Alabama and Northwest Missouri State, to become the 23rd coach in NCAA Division-I softball history to reach 1,000 wins. He now owns a 1,032-298 (.776) career record and 1,004-278 (.783) record at Alabama.

ALABAMA IN SEC PLAY

Alabama opens SEC play this weekend with a three-game series at Auburn. The Tide is 422-154 (.733) all-time in SEC play, including a 387-133 (.744) mark under head coach Patrick Murphy. Alabama has won five SEC regular season titles, last doing so in 2014.

OSORIO APPROACHING 1,000 CAREER STRIKEOUTS

Senior Alexis Osorio is approaching a rare milestone at Alabama, as she is just 71 strikeouts away from the 1,000th of her career. She would be just the fourth player in program history to hit the 1,000 strikeout mark and the first since Kelsi Dunne (2008-11). Currently she sits fifth all-time at Alabama, just 48 away from passing Jaclyn Traina (2011-14).

Alabama Career Strikeout Leaders

1. Kelsi Dunne (2008-11): 1,219
2. Stephanie VanBrakle (2003-06): 1,113
3. Shelley Laird (1999-2002): 1,045
4. Jaclyn Traina (2011-14): 976
5. Alexis Osorio (2015-pres.): 929

HOT START FOR FRESHMAN KAYLEE TOW

Alabama freshman Kaylee Tow is off to a hot start in her freshman campaign, leading the team with a .404 batting average, 23 hits and 16 runs scored. Twelve of her 23 hits have been for extra bases, including a team-leading five home runs, pushing her slugging percentage to .825. She has also drawn 12 walks, boasting a .507 on-base percentage.

Her batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage all lead the team. The last player to finish the season leading the team in all three categories was Haylie McCleney in 2014, marking the 11th time it had happened in program history. The only freshmen to complete the sweep were Kelly Kretschman (1998) and Christy Kyle (1997).

TIDE ENTERS SEC PLAY RANKED NO. 12 IN NFCA POLL

Alabama softball heads into week six and the start of conference play ranked No. 12 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 15 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.

Alabama moved up one spot in the NFCA poll but fell two spots in the USA Softball poll after a 5-0 week at the Easton Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa. Alabama posted two victories over both Boston College and Fordham before wrapping up the weekend with a win over Samford. Overall, Alabama is 17-5 through five weeks of play.

ALABAMA SLATED TO APPEAR IN 13 NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAMES

Alabama softball is slated to appear 13 times across ESPN's family of networks during the regular season, playing in at least one televised contest in seven of its eight conference series.

All Crimson Tide home games and select road contests will also be available to stream online via the SEC Network+ digital platform. Links to watch online will be posted on the softball schedule page at RollTide.com and on Alabama Softball social media platforms.

Alabama Softball 2018 Television Schedule

• Saturday, March 17 at Auburn – 7 p.m. CT – ESPNU
• Sunday, March 18 at Auburn – 5 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Saturday, March 31 at Kentucky – 4 p.m. CT – ESPN2
• Saturday, April 7 vs. Florida – Noon CT – ESPN2
• Sunday, April 8 vs. Florida – 2 p.m. CT – ESPN2
• Monday, April 9 vs. Florida – 6 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Saturday, April 14 at Arkansas – 11 a.m. CT – ESPNU
• Wednesday, April 18 vs. Southern Miss – 6 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Sunday, April 22 vs. Tennessee – 2 p.m. CT – ESPN2
• Monday, April 23 vs. Tennessee – 6 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Saturday, April 28 at Georgia – 5 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Friday, May 4 vs. Texas A&M – 7 p.m. CT – SEC Network
• Saturday, May 5 vs. Texas A&M – Noon CT – SEC Network

UP NEXT

Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa to play four home games next week. The Tide hosts UAB on Tuesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. CT before continuing SEC play with a three-game series against Ole Miss March 23-25 at Rhoads Stadium.

Alabama Softball Opens SEC Play With Three-Game Road Series at Auburn - Alabama Athletics

 

[UA Press Release]

AUBURN, Ala. – Alabama softball opened Southeastern Conference play Friday against Auburn, holding the Tigers to just one hit in the 2-0 shutout.

Alabama (19-5, 1-0 SEC) was led by yet another stellar performance in the circle from senior Alexis Osorio (6-3), holding Auburn (25-6, 0-4 SEC) to just one hit and striking out six in the complete-game shutout. A first-inning RBI single from sophomore Gabby Callaway and a sixth-inning solo home run from junior Caroline Hardy accounted for all the offense the Tide would need. Hardy's home run was part of a 2-for-3 day and freshman Kaylee Tow also notched a 2-for-3 day from the leadoff spot.

Tow came out first-pitch swinging to lead off the top of the first, sending a single back up the middle. After a walk to sophomore Bailey Hemphill, Callaway battled to a full count before pulling a single through the right side to drive in Tow and give Alabama the early 1-0 lead. Junior Reagan Dykes laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position but back-to-back strikeouts ended the half-inning with the Tide on top by one.

Auburn threatened immediately in the bottom of the first, loading the bases on two walks and a fielding error with nobody out. After a quick meeting in the circle, Osorio bounced back with three-straight strikeouts to get out of the bases-loaded jam and hold the 1-0 lead.

Alabama stranded two on base in both the third and fourth innings, unable to add to its one-run lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Tannon snow led off the inning with a single to left field for Auburn's first hit of the game. A fielding error put two on base and a sacrifice bunt moved the pair into scoring position with one out. Osorio fielded a comebacker for out number two, holding the runner at third, and Dykes made a running catch in foul territory to end the inning, slamming into the backstop but holding on to the ball.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Hardy blasted a solo home run to right-center field, doubling the Tide's lead to 2-0. Later with two outs, senior Demi Turner battled through a 12-pitch at-bat to draw a walk but a groundout ended the half-inning. In the bottom of the inning, Auburn would draw three walks to load the bases with one out but a strikeout and groundout would get the Tide out of a bases-loaded jam for the second time in the game, ending the sixth inning with the score 2-0.

Tow led off the top of the seventh reaching on a fielding error but a double play quickly put two outs on the board. Junior Merris Schroder, who had entered as a defensive replacement, ripped a two-out single through the right side but a groundout ended the half-inning with the Tide unable to add to its 2-0 lead. With the top of its batting order due up in the bottom of the seventh, Auburn went down in order as Alabama held on to earn the one-hit shutout.

Game two of the weekend series is set for a 7 p.m. CT start Saturday, March 17 on ESPNU.

Alabama Softball Shuts Out Auburn, 2-0, Friday to Open SEC Play - Alabama Athletics

 

[TerryP]

 

[rick4bama]

ROLL TIDE Ladies!!

 

[UA Press Release]

AUBURN, Ala. – Facing a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh, Alabama softball plated a run with two outs and put the tying run on base but the late rally ultimately fell short as the Crimson Tide fell to Auburn, 3-1, to even the weekend series.

Alabama (19-6, 1-1 SEC) was held to just one hit over the first five innings before tallying three in the remaining two innings, including an RBI single from sophomore Elissa Brown in the seventh. Auburn (26-6, 1-4 SEC) scored three runs on five hits, earning its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season. Freshman Madison Preston (6-2) took the loss for Alabama, pitching 3.1 innings while junior Courtney Gettins pitched 2.2 relief innings behind her, getting the Tide out of bases-loaded jams in back-to-back innings.

Alabama stranded a runner on base in the top of the first inning and Auburn drew a two-out walk in the bottom half before a great throw from junior Reagan Dykes down to senior Sydney Booker covering second caught the runner stealing to end the inning. The Tigers drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the second and Kendall Veach followed with a double off the wall in left field, scoring the runner to give Auburn the 1-0 lead. Preston and the Tide defense limited the damage with a strikeout and groundout to keep Veach stranded at second and end the inning with a one-run deficit.

Auburn's Morgan Podany led off the bottom of the third with a walk and successfully stole second on the third strike of the next at-bat. A groundout moved her to third base with two out and a wild pitch brought her home to increase the Tigers' lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, a leadoff single and hit-by-pitch put two on base for Auburn and a sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position, now with one out. A walk loaded the bases and that ended Preston's outing in the circle as Gettins entered in relief. She struck out the first batter she faced and senior Demi Turner ended the inning with a diving play to corral a grounder, tagging the runner out between first and second to get Alabama out of the bases-loaded jam with Auburn still in front 2-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tannon Snow led off the inning with a double in the gap. Casey McCracken drew a walk in the next at-bat but the fourth ball was a wild pitch, allowing Snow to move up to third and McCracken to advance to second. A strikeout and groundout quickly put two outs on the board before the Tide intentionally walked Kendall Veach to load the bases. A bases-loaded walk increased the Tigers' lead to 3-0 before a strikeout ended the frame, stranding the bases loaded for the second-consecutive inning.

With one out in the top of the sixth, freshman Kaylee Tow reached base safely on a fielding error and sophomore Bailey Hemphill followed with a single up the middle as Tow advanced to second before being lifted for senior Rachel Bobo as a pinch-runner. A popup and force out at third base would end the inning, as the Tide was unable to cut into the Tigers' 3-0 lead.

Auburn couldn't add to its three-run lead in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-hitting to lead off the top of the seventh, junior Merris Schroder poked a single up the middle. Back-to-back strikeouts brought Alabama down to its final out, but Schroder advanced to second on a wild pitch at the end of the second at-bat. A fielding error extended the inning, putting runners at the corners and Brown plated the Tide's first run of the day with an RBI single through the left side, making the score 3-1. A called strikeout ended the rally and the game as Auburn won to even the series at 1-1.

The series rubber match is set for a 1 p.m. CT start Sunday, March 18, having been moved up from its original 5 p.m. start time due the threat of inclement weather later in the afternoon. The game will stream live on WatchESPN.com and will air as a tape-delay broadcast on the SEC Network in its original 5 p.m. CT time slot.

Alabama Softball Falls to Auburn, 3-1, to Even the Weekend Series - Alabama Athletics

 

[TerryP]

I guess we need an acronym for "concussion protocol" now-a-day.

 

[TerryP]

BTW, Bama up 1-0, B6

 

[PhillyGirl]

Hoping Lexi has a speedy recovery.

Also, I hope this team remembers how to hit.

 

[BAMAneck]

Hoping Lexi has a speedy recovery.

Also, I hope this team remembers how to hit.

Fingers crossed.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Frustrating clutch hitting..or lack there of

 

[UA Press Release]

Alabama Softball Falls to Auburn Sunday in Series Finale, 2-1

AUBURN, Ala. – Holding a 1-0 lead for the majority of Sunday's game, Alabama softball dropped the series finale to Auburn in walk-off fashion as the Tigers came back to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh and defeat the Crimson Tide, 2-1.

Alabama (19-7, 1-2 SEC) scored its lone run of the day in the first inning on an RBI single from sophomore Bailey Hemphill. Auburn (27-6, 2-4 SEC) was held scoreless until a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh tied it at 1-1 and an RBI single from Casey McCrackin with two out in the inning would give the Tigers the comeback victory to win the series. Junior Courtney Gettins (7-2) took the hard-luck loss in the circle, posting a gutsy performance in the circle after senior starter Alexis Osorio had to exit in the first inning due to injury.

Sophomore Elissa Brown led off the game with a first-pitch bunt single and immediately stole second on the first pitch of the next at-bat. Later with one out, Hemphill would drop a single into shallow right field, advancing to second on the throw as Brown hustled around to score and give the Tide an early 1-0 lead.

After a groundout to lead off the bottom of the first, Osorio was struck in the face by the ball, eventually exiting the game under her own power as Gettins entered the game in relief with a runner on first and one out. A pair of fly balls to freshman Kaylee Tow ended the inning, including a running catch against the wall for the final out, to keep it a 1-0 game.

A walk, sacrifice bunt and throwing error put runners at the corners for Auburn in the bottom of the second with one out. On a double steal attempt, senior Demi Turner cut off the throw down to second and fired to third as senior Peyton Grantham caught the runner off the bag with a swipe tag for out number two. A strikeout looking from Gettins ended the inning with Alabama still in front by one.

The score remained the same heading to the seventh inning as the Tide could not add to its 1-0 lead and Auburn stranded a combined five runners on base from the third inning through the sixth. Looking to add some insurance, junior Caroline Hardy drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh and senior Rachel Bobo entered as a pinch runner. She advanced to second on a passed ball and two batters later she moved up to third on yet another passed ball with one out. A groundout and fly ball would keep her stranded 60 feet away as Alabama could not add to its 1-0 lead.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Auburn's Alyssa Rivera tied the game at 1-1 with a solo home run. A walk turned it back to the top of the order and the leadoff hitter was called out of the box on a sacrifice bunt attempt for out number one as the runner held at first base. A force out at second went for out number two and the batter, who reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. McCrackin ended it in the next at-bat with an RBI single through the left side to win in walk-off fashion, 2-1.

Next up, Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. CT to host UAB before welcoming Ole Miss in for a three-game SEC series starting Friday, March 23.

Alabama Softball Falls to Auburn Sunday in Series Finale, 2-1 - Alabama Athletics

 

[forevertide]

murphy does not recruit offensive players s cooper girl who played at auburn & was a star wanted to commit to bama always a fan per her mom murphy told her she was to small next day COMMITTED TO AUBURN