Alabama Softball’s Road to OKC Starts Now—and It Won’t Be Easy
Alabama softball’s path to Oklahoma City is officially underway, and yeah—it’s going to be a grind. But that’s nothing new for a Patrick Murphy squad.
This team didn’t even win an SEC weekend series until late March. Still, they showed major fight, including a big series win over powerhouse Oklahoma in April. The SEC’s been a battle all season, with several heartbreaking one-run losses. But maybe that tough slate will pay off when it matters most—starting now, as the Tide hosts their 20th straight regional in Tuscaloosa.
It won’t be a cakewalk. Virginia Tech, Belmont, and Jackson State are all dangerous. The Hokies bring one of the nation’s best hitters in Cori McMillan, and keeping her in check will be key if Bama wants to move on.
Belmont’s got a serious weapon too—pitcher Maya Johnson. Some say she’s the top arm in the country with over 340 strikeouts and a 24-4 record. Alabama’s pitching staff? Not quite that dominant this year, so they’ll need to hold it together and avoid the kind of late-game collapse we saw in the SEC Tournament loss to South Carolina.
First up for the Tide: Jackson State, fresh off a SWAC championship win over FAMU. Meanwhile, Alabama’s coming off a quick SEC Tournament exit, but home-field advantage and the crowd at Rhoads Stadium could give them a spark.
Offensively, Alabama’s been hit or miss all season. So clutch hitting is going to be huge. They’ll be counting on big-time production from SEC First Teamer Audrey Vandagriff, the team’s most consistent hitter, and senior slugger Kali Heivilin, who leads Bama with 13 home runs.
If they can make it through this regional, a potential Super Regional rematch with Oklahoma looms. The Sooners are chasing a fifth straight national title—and while they seem a little more beatable this year, they still managed to take the SEC regular season and share the tournament title in their first year in the league.
For now, though, all focus is on surviving this weekend. If Alabama makes it out on top, it could go down as one of Patrick Murphy’s best coaching jobs yet.
