The No. 2 Alabama softball team suffered its second loss of the weekend on Sunday, losing 9-0 to the ninth-ranked Missouri Tigers. Sunday’s game marked the first time Alabama was run-ruled at the UA softball complex.
The loss drops the Crimson Tide’s record to 1-2 to start the season. The Tide defense struggled to keep Missouri’s batters off the bases, surrendering nine hits and committing three errors in the field.
Head coach Patrick Murphy said he was not pleased with Sunday’s results.
“It’s an ugly day all the way around,” Murphy said. “Disappointed that adjustments weren’t made. They did everything right we did everything wrong. It was like a carbon copy of the second game [Saturday]. The first inning was two-base error, walk, hit by pitch, and they come through with the gaper, and we’re playing on our heels kind of like they were [Saturday].”
Alabama struggled on the offensive side as Tide batters produced two hits the entire game. Tigers’ sophomore star pitcher Chelsea pitched 5 innings while recording 12 strikeouts. Tide senior pitcher Charlotte Morgan was the only player to draw a walk from Thomas on Sunday.
“We knew they were going to come with Thomas,” Morgan said. “If we don’t make adjustments, this is what’s going to happen. Missouri is a great team, great offensive team. We’ve seen that all [throughout] the last couple years. You got to give your hat to them – they showed up to play today.”
Junior pitcher Kelsi Dunne was pinned with the loss as she pitched three innings allowing four hits and four runs. Morgan also had trouble keeping the Tigers from getting hits as she gave up two hits that led to runs. Highly touted freshman pitcher Lauren Sewell pitched the last two innings, allowing three hits and one run.
“We’re glad Sewell went in there and got some experience,” Murphy said. “But I just think it’s a long ways, a long season, softball and baseball are not sprints, they are marathons.”
While the loss may be difficult for Alabama to accept, the tables were turned in Saturday’s doubleheader as Missouri took the first game 2-1 and the Tide won 9-0 in the second. Alabama scored six runs in the first inning to back Morgan’s 10 strikeouts.
“It’s three games out of fifty-six,” Murphy said. “We run-ruled them, they run-ruled us, but it’s a long season. There’s a lot of things we need to work on, I’m glad we get to practice and play again right away.”
Alabama turns its sights to the game next week at home against South Alabama and will look to bounce back from a tough series against Missouri. Morgan said Tuesday’s game is an opportunity for Tide players to redeem themselves.
“Every game should matter the same, but coming in Tuesday, we got to come out full force,” Morgan said. “Every game you got to play like it’s your last. We have to keep preaching it, we have [Monday] to come out in practice, work hard, do what we have to do, get better personally and show up to play.”
