After holding an 11-game win streak for almost two weeks, the softball team fell to the University of Central Florida last weekend 3-2. The No. 7 Alabama softball team now moves to 12-3 fifteen games into the season after the Crimson Tide finished the NFCA Leadoff Classic 4-1.
“This past weekend was a really good weekend for us,” said head coach Patrick Murphy. “We beat four of the five teams, and instead of taking a step forward and a step back, I think we took three steps forward and a small step back. Everyone is going to try and bring their best game against us and we just have to be ready for it.”
Alabama beat Maryland, Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska in Columbus, Ga., at the tournament in Columbus, Ga., but the Tide will be focusing on its one loss against UCF to look for areas of improvement, team members said.
“We got off to a good start and beat some really good teams, which has given this young team some confidence, but at the same time we didn’t finish the way we wanted to,” said senior Charlotte Morgan.
“As the season goes along we need to address that. We faced some really good teams and learned a lot about ourselves. Now we just need to keep working and get better.”
Alabama has a lot to be proud of after its two losses to Missouri at the beginning of the season — causing some fans to question the Tide’s high ranking. But since that series, the Tide has only been beaten by UCF.
“I think we are the comeback kids,” Murphy said. “We never say die. We feel we are never out of a game, which the Michigan game illustrated [when Alabama entered the final inning down four runs]. A lot of teams may have folded and given up, but this team doesn’t do that.”
Alabama will have six straight home games starting this weekend. Four are part of the Easton Challenge Friday through Sunday, followed by a double-header with Liberty Tuesday. The Tide will alternate between Michigan and DePaul this weekend with a double header scheduled for Saturday.
“This weekend will be another good test for us,” Morgan said. “It is nice to be back home, as we have been on the road for two straight weeks. We just need to keep taking each game at a time and not try and get ahead of ourselves. It should make for a great weekend of softball in front of our fans.”
Alabama isn’t taking this tournament lightly, even though the Tide has a home-field advantage. Alabama scored 10 runs against Michigan and 11 against Nebraska in back-to-back games over the weekend, and the fans are expecting similar results against Michigan and DePaul.
“We are supposed to have good weather, so I hope everyone comes out,” Murphy said. “Michigan is a top-five team and DePaul is one of the better teams in the country with one of the best pitchers in the country. She was our only shutout two years ago – they shut us out in Chicago, so we know her. Michigan has two of the top pitchers in the country, so it is going to be quite the challenge.”
The Crimson Tide’s first game this weekend is Friday at 6 p.m. against Michigan.
