If losing a series including a run-rule loss to the SEC doormat was not bad enough, the Crimson Tide topped that debacle with a listless low-energy loss to a non-Power 5 Western Kentucky. Again it seemed like Alabama thought they were going to win just by showing up in their bright shiny uniforms.
Patrick Murphy opted to start Jaala Torrence in the circle against the C-USA leading Lady Toppers (31-9) and she was greeted quite rudely by the home team with a barrage of base hits.
After Bama’s first three batters made like polite guests and quietly went down in order, WKU responded with a single, a sacrifice, and an RBI double. At this point, most sane coaches would probably hook the reserve pitcher, but Murphy was goin’ with his Gut® and The Gut® said “play on!”
A wild pitch moved the runner to third and then a strikeout. The Gut® is happy again. The next batter walked and still no move to the mound. The sixth hitter of the inning was a young lady by the name of Bailey Curry. Miss Curry leads her team with 11 home runs and almost made it number 12 with a double to center that scored two more WKU runs and a 3-0 lead before a sellout crowd of 1,512.
Who knew that would be enough for the win?
After that disaster, Montana Fouts came in and threw a one-hitter for the final 5.1 innings. Imagine that.
The Bama offense was baffled by righty Shelby Nunn (18-6). The Toppers pitcher is a fifth-year senior. So, you would think maybe there is some video of her pitching out there that, I dunno, maybe some coaches could watch and scout? Nah, we don’t needa do that...
In the second inning, Bama grounded into a double play that looked like Tinker to Evers to Chance.
Finally by the fourth inning after going through the lineup once, Bama was able to scout the opposing pitcher (great plan) and started getting some base runners. Trouble was, they stranded more people than the S.S. Minnow.
4th - two singles - 2 left on base
5th - single, double - 2 left on base
6th - double, reached on error, walk - 3 left on base
7th - single, reached on error, ground out scored a run - 1 left on second
That is four straight innings of runners in scoring position and a lousy ground out is the only run producer - and an unearned run at that. WKU allowed six hits, two walks, and had zero strike outs against Bama hitters
My kingdom for a home run hitter!
If this past six days is not an eye-opener to Murphy that he needs to change his ways, I don’t think he can ever be reached.
It would have to be assumed that Alabama falls out of the top eight. They cannot afford a loss to Mizzou in the final three regular season games and may have to win the SEC Tournament just to get back up there in the Elite 8.
This Team26 has a lot of softball left to play but it looks seriously doubtful that they will get back to Oklahoma City at this point - which makes last year’s inexplicable WCWS meltdown all the more painful.
Also of note: Kat Grill did not play for the third straight game. It’s a m***er f***ing mystery why. And nobody wants to ask good ol’ coach Murph and hurt his feelings.
UPCOMING ALABAMA SCHEDULE
- Friday, May 6 vs. Missouri 6 p.m. CT - SEC+
- Saturday, May 7 vs. Missouri 1 p.m. CT - SEC+
- Sunday, May 8 vs. Missouri 1 p.m. CT - Senior Day - ESPNU
Comments
Portal.
Put them all in the portal. Unforgivable.
This is the worst thing I’ve seen since Bama Had the 1 seed and Ave up a moonshot to Hawaii in the Supers
By BSCbama on 04.27.22 9:17pm
Fire Pat Murphy szn PAWWWWWWWL
Also FIRE CORAL before it gets here!
By BamaSideUp on 04.27.22 9:18pm
Both of these.
By Law Abiding Citizen on 04.27.22 9:36pm
Getting serious Gottfried vibes from Murphy
Success leads to overconfidence then complacency with a big ol’ heaping helping of hard headedness about changing anything.
By bamadan72 on 04.27.22 9:40pm
yall are starting to come around I see
By Ma Deuce on 04.27.22 10:09pm
One day, CB will get Murph alone in a room,
and I will get every Alabama offensive coordinator ever, and we’re gonna’ have some words.
By Erik Evans on 04.28.22 5:22am
I'll get my shovel ready
By CrimsonRon on 04.28.22 7:44am
Like EE did with former baseball coach?
By CJMaury on 04.28.22 8:51am
Nah. Murphy means well
He just has not adapted to the game. I call him Softball Bobby Cox, but he’s more like Softball Mark Richt.
Alabama is going to win. It will be a Top 10 program. But until he moderns up and embraces velocity hitting and analytics of power at the plate, the team is never going to win another title.
In a very real sense he has to be like Nick Saban and step outside of his comfort zone. But after three decades I’ve just seen no willingness to adapt, and particularly the last decade when he’s seen other good programs morph into title contenders by abandoning the one-ace and small ball approach.
you simply have to plate some runs, and one hitter and one star pitcher may get you to 33 wins, but it won’t get you to 40 or get you out of Oklahoma City.
The rest of the SEC is catching up with Alabama because Murphy’s intransigence is letting them.
The sad truth is that just about everyone with some patience at the plate and one ace effectively has a plan for Alabama softball and walks into that match up with a 50-50 shot
By Erik Evans on 04.28.22 10:37am
Maybe these new proposed rule changes might help.
The second proposed change in particular would allow Murphy to hire a coach solely dedicated to hitting. Who knows if he’d actually do it or if his choice of hitting coach would be a good one but he’d at least have the option.
By DarthSaban on 04.28.22 10:45am
He may mean well
but he still seems hard damn headed. The SEC was catching up with Alabama 10 years ago to be honest, and like you said everyone has the formula now. We are deep into an adapt or die situation at this point.
By wiseace615 on 04.28.22 11:37am
Maybe it's my imagination, or maybe poor reading skills...
But what was the final score? Is it in the article at all?
By briny001 on 04.28.22 8:30am
3-0. CB said ‘who knew that would be enough?’
By CJMaury on 04.28.22 8:42am
But he also said this:
Final score 3-1.
#refund
By CarrotTop4 on 04.28.22 8:51am
Attended the game and was surprised at team’s demeanor.
I’m from Alabama, enlisted at 18, retired at 39, stayed in KY. Bama had a lot of fans living in KY go to game. There were all kinds of fast pitch teams in attendance to watch the Tide play. Folks been looking forward to this game all season. WKU was fired up and the dugout was pumped and full of energy. Bama just seemed like their wasn’t much interest. I earned both my undergrad and grad degrees from WKU so I won either way. However, I was surprised to see Bama so flat. First time I’ve watched them in person so maybe this is just the team’s demeanor.
By Sarge82 on 04.28.22 8:48am
Sad. <img src="//fonts.voxmedia.com/emoji/unicode/1f61e.png" alt=":disappointed:" class="emoji">
I haven’t seen this year’s team in person, but our team is usually lively.
By CarrotTop4 on 04.28.22 8:52am
I heard it was uncharacteristically flat last night
I heard it was uncharacteristically flat last night.
But, it is also dead week, and the kids have finals next week. So things do settle down for 10 days or so
By Erik Evans on 04.28.22 10:39am