Tag: Patrick Murphy

Alabama softball lands just outside top 10 in preseason ESPN rankings

Here’s where Patrick Murphy’s 2025 team ranks in ESPN/USA Softball’s preseason Top 25.

The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team is preparing for its 2025 season opener in Tucson, Ariz., at the annual Candrea Classic.

Alabama is scheduled to open the season against the Washington Huskies on Feb. 7. They’re also scheduled to face the Michigan State Spartans, Western Michigan Broncos and host Arizona Wildcats at the tournament.

With less than two weeks until the season begins, ESPN and USA Softball recently unveiled their preseason Top 25 rankings. Patrick Murphy’s Crimson Tide were ranked No. 11, one spot behind No. 10 Texas Tech and one spot ahead of No. 12 Florida State.

Alabama was also ranked No. 11 in Softball America’s preseason Top 25 poll, released earlier this month on Jan. 13.

In ESPN’s poll, the Texas Longhorns were ranked preseason No. 1, followed by the Florida Gators at No. 2. The four-time reigning national champion Oklahoma Sooners were ranked No. 3, followed by No. 4 Oklahoma State and No. 5 Tennessee to round out the top five.

A total of 11 SEC teams were ranked in ESPN’s preseason poll, including six in the top 10. Texas A&M was No. 7, followed by LSU at No. 9. With Alabama at No. 11, Arkansas (No. 13), Georgia (No. 14), Missouri (No. 15), and Mississippi State (No. 25) were also ranked in the top 25.

Alabama finished 39-20 overall in 2024, a season that included the program’s 15th trip to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. The Crimson Tide swept their on-site regional at Rhoads Stadium before rallying past No. 3 Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional. Alabama was eliminated by Florida in the WCWS.

The Crimson Tide ended the 2024 season ranked No. 8 in the final USA TODAY Sports/NFCA Coaches Poll.

First pitch for Alabama’s season opener against Washington is listed as 10:30 a.m. CT from Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

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Where Alabama ranks in preseason Softball America Top 25 poll

Patrick Murphy’s team is ranked just outside the Top 10.

Less than a month remains until the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team takes the field in Tucson, Ariz.

That’s where Patrick Murphy will begin his 26th season as Alabama softball coach when the Crimson Tide open the season against the Washington Huskies at the Candrea Classic on Feb. 7.

On Monday, Softball America unveiled its preseason Top 25 poll. Alabama is ranked No. 11, one spot behind the Florida State Seminoles at No. 10 and one spot ahead of the LSU Tigers at No. 12.

The SEC dominated the Top 25 with 10 ranked teams total, including the preseason No. 1 team: the Florida Gators. That Patty Gasso’s four-time defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners aren’t ranked No. 1 is news in and of itself.

Oklahoma is No. 3 behind the Gators and No. 2 Texas Longhorns. Oklahoma State (No. 4) and UCLA (No. 5) rounded out the top five.

A season ago, Alabama advanced to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City for the 15th time in school history. They finished 39-20 overall and 10-14 in SEC play, completing a 3-0 sweep at their on-site regional at Rhoads Stadium before defeating No. 3 Tennessee, 4-1, in a winner-take-all Game 3 at the Knoxville Super Regional. Alabama was eliminated by Florida in the WCWS.

First pitch for the Crimson Tide’s season opener against Washington is listed as 10:30 a.m. CT at Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama news and notes, plus opinions. 

Longtime Alabama softball assistant Alyson Habetz gets head coaching job

After more than 25 years in Tuscaloosa, Alyson Habetz returns home!

After 26 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Crimson Tide softball associate head coach Alyson Habetz has left the program to take the head coaching job with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

Habetz joined the Alabama coaching staff in 1998 and along with head coach [autotag]Patrick Murphy[/autotag], has been the face of one of the most dominant softball programs in the country.

During her tenure, Habetz has helped lead the Tide to 14 Women’s College World Series appearances, including its first national championship in 2012, along with six SEC regular season titles and five SEC Tournament titles.

Habetz now returns to her old stomping grounds in Lafayette, Louisiana where she played softball and basketball.

In 2006, Habetz was inducted into the Louisiana High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. She also is enshrined in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Sports Hall of Fame, where she was inducted in 2003.

Habetz will certainly be missed in Tuscaloosa but we wish her the best of luck and thank her for her years of service to the University of Alabama.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Top photos from Alabama softball’s win over No. 10 Duke in WCWS elimination game

Alabama softball’s 2024 season stays alive after the Crimson Tide defeated No. 10 Duke in a Women’s College World Series elimination game.

Despite a rocky 2024 regular season, the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team has made it to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series. After falling to the UCLA Bruins in the opening round, the Crimson Tide fought hard to take down the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils in a win-or-go-home elimination game with a final score of 2-1.

Alabama’s lack of offense throughout the season has resulted in the Crimson Tide being comfortable in low-scoring contests, relying heavily on defense and consistent pitching.

A late solo home run by Marlie Giles was the difference-maker that broke the tie and put Alabama up by one run.

Alabama will next play on Sunday against the loser of the Florida Gators vs. the Texas Longhorns in another must-win game that will end one team’s season.

Before looking ahead to the next game, relive the excitement from the Crimson Tide’s win over Duke.

Photos from Alabama softball’s win over Duke in the WCWS

Alabama softball survives WCWS elimination, defeats No. 10 Duke

Alabama softball takes down Duke in a Women’s College World Series elimination game.

The No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide softball team took down the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils in a Women’s College World Series elimination game with a final score of 2-1, thanks to a sixth-inning home run by Marlie Giles.

A low-scoring contest is not unusual for the Crimson Tide, as the team’s bats have been inconsistent throughout the season, but the pitching has kept them in the game.

Patrick Murphy’s squad managed to hold on to the late lead and will now wait for the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators to play on Saturday. On Sunday, the Crimson Tide will face the loser.

The next loss will end Alabama’s 2024 season. It’s win or go home from here on out.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama softball as they look to extend their run in the Women’s College World Series.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

How to watch Alabama softball vs. Duke softball in WCWS elimination game on Friday

Alabama softball is in a must-win situation at the Women’s College World Series

The No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide softball team dropped its first game in the 2024 Women’s College World Series 4-1 to the UCLA Bruins on Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. Now [autotag]Patrick Murphy[/autotag] and the Crimson Tide will play in an elimination game on Friday night against the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils that took a 9-1 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners.

The winner of Friday night’s matchup will advance to play the loser of the Game 8 matchup between the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and the No. 4 Florida Gators. The loser on the other hand will have their season and dreams of winning a national championship come to an end.

Here is how can watch Friday night’s action between the Tide and Blue Devils!

How to watch Alabama softball vs. Duke softball in Women’s College World Series

  • Date: Friday, May 31, 2024
  • Location: Devon Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Time: 6 p.m. CT
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live Stream: FuboTV (Watch Here)

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover the Alabama softball team as the postseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Alabama softball set to take on UCLA in Women’s College World Series on Thursday

Don’t miss how to watch Alabama softball in the Women’s College World Series!

For the 15th time in program history, [autotag]Patrick Murphy[/autotag] will lead the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team in a Women’s College World Series matchup. This time the SEC powerhouse will take on the historic UCLA Bruins to open play in Oklahoma City.

Alabama is coming off an incredible upset victory over the Tennessee Lady Vols in the Knoxville Super Regional. At the same time, the Bruins handled business against the Georgia Bulldogs last weekend in Los Angeles.

Strong pitching and clutch hitting have helped carry the Crimson Tide to this point and they will need much of the same to keep its magical postseason run alive.

How to watch Alabama softball vs. UCLA softball in Women’s College World Series

  • Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024
  • Location: Devon Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Time: 11 a.m. CT
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live Stream: FuboTV (Watch Here)

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover the Alabama softball team as the postseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Top photos from Alabama softball’s upset win over Tennessee in Knoxville Super Regional

Alabama softball’s huge upset win over Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional keeps the Tide’s season alive. See the top images from the Super Regional win!

Alabama Crimson Tide softball was down 1-0 on the Knoxville Super Regional series against the Tennessee Lady Vols, but bounced back in Game 2 after a lengthy extra-inning contest and started out strong in Game 3 winner-take-all matchup with a four-run first inning.

Offense had been a concern for Patrick Murphy’s 2024 team, but the bats have come alive in the postseason and the pitching has stood strong against quality teams.

For the 15th time in program history, the Crimson Tide moves on to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Before looking ahead to what”s next for Alabama, relive the excitement of the Game 3 win with this photo gallery.

Alabama softball punches ticket to Women’s College World Series with 4-1 win over Lady Vols

Alabama softball advances to the Women’s College World Series for the 15th time in program history!

Patrick Murphy and the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team have punched their ticket to the Women’s College World Series with their 4-1 upset victory over the Tennessee Lady Vols in the Knoxville Super Regional on Sunday.

Riley Valentine got things rolling early for the Crimson Tide in the top of the first with a grand slam home run to give Alabama a 4-0 lead.

Freshman pitcher Jocelyn Briski threw 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball before fifth-year senior Kayla Beaver came in to get the final two outs and the save.

No. 14 Alabama will face No. 6 UCLA in the opening round of the WCWS on Thursday.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover the Alabama softball team as the postseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Alabama softball advances to Super Regionals with dominant win over SE Louisiana

Alabama softball run-rules SE Louisiana to advance to the Super Regionals!

Alabama Crimson Tide softball took on Southeast Louisiana in the Tuscaloosa Regional finals and put on a dominant performance. The Tide won with a final score of 12-2 and now advances to the NCAA Super Regionals, where they will face the winner of the Knoxville Regional.

One of the biggest concerns over this season’s team was the lack of offense. That was not an issue for the Tide in today’s performance.

Following yesterday’s win over Southeast Louisiana, Alabama took them on again in the Regional finals and made a statement with their bats in the first inning, scoring nine runs.

Jocelyn Briski started the game in the circle, pitching four full innings, throwing 57 pitches, only giving up five hits, two walks and two earned runs. Jaala Torrence entered the game in the fifth inning to close out the matchup.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama softball as their postseason run continues.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM.