The University of Alabama Crimson Tide softball team had a weekend off to rest up for Wednesday’s game against the University of Southern Mississippi Eagles.

The Tide entered the bye weekend after a 11-0 win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham during last Wednesday’s game.

Head coach Patrick Murphy said his team needed the break. The team practiced in the batting cages last Thursday when rain kept the players off the field. The Tide then took Friday, Saturday and Sunday off and resumed practice Monday evening. Murphy said this was the team’s free weekend without a conference game. While other teams may have played last weekend, the Tide took the opportunity to recuperate.

“I think it comes at a right time to get [the players] back in shape,” Murphy said. “I think everybody’s arm should be loose because they’ve had three days off.”

The Tide enters the game with an overall record of 37-6. Murphy said his team has not played Southern Miss in a few years and the Tide’s opponent has not had any televised games. This forces the Tide to prepare for its opponent by the statistics the team sees on paper, Murphy said.

Southern Miss will bring a losing record of 11-32 to Tuscaloosa. The Eagles also have a fresh coaching staff with two co-head coaches who are entering their second season with Southern Miss. This will not keep the Tide’s opponent from playing its best game, Murphy said. As the reigning national champions, the Tide attracts every team’s best game, the head coach said.

“The first couple innings will tell the tale so to speak,” Murphy said. “I think everybody that we’ve played, especially their pitchers, have been looking to knock us off. I think we’ve gotten used to that, because game in game out everybody’s brought their best game against us.”

Murphy said the target on the Tide’s back has been an advantage for the team, and it has not let the team back down against opponents or become complacent.

After three days off, coach Murphy said the Tide would focus on fundamentals Monday night during practice in order to prepare for the game against the Eagles. Murphy said he expects anyone who plays in the game against the Eagles to bring their best game to the field.

The two teams will take to the Rhoads Stadium field at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Next up on the Tide’s schedule is a three-game series against Southeastern Conference opponent Mississippi State University Bulldogs. The series against the Bulldogs will end the Tide’s 10-game homestand.