The Extra Point: Early-Season Pros and Cons for Alabama Softball

Alabama softball has won several impressive games over ranked teams but also stumbled against opponents that should not have a chance in defeating the Crimson Tide.

The beginning of a season is both an exciting and challenging time for sports teams.

The excitement of playing and winning games with a new team that has big dreams and goals is exhilarating. However, a new team also brings the challenge of learning how to gel together and figuring out which players fit what role and who will perform best in the new season.

For Alabama softball (11-3), the beginning of the 2023 season has had some exciting highs and already some challenging lows. 

At the Clearwater Invitational, the Crimson Tide won four out of five games, beating three ranked teams, (Duke, UCF, Florida State) and losing to only No. 2 ranked UCLA. Alabama's strong performance proved they have the potential to beat anyone and helped them rise to the No. 7 ranking.

On the other end of the spectrum, however, Patrick Murphy's squad has also suffered several disappointing losses. First, they dropped their very first game of the season to Lehigh, 7-4, and while the Mountain Hawks are a good team, the Crimson Tide certainly expects to beat them more often than not.

Most recently, Alabama lost to Kennesaw State on Sunday, 5-3. The Owls were 3-10 coming into the contest and had only scored a single run per game in the Easton Bama Bash before playing the Crimson Tide. It was an extremely bad loss and one that proves there are certainly some areas of improvement for Alabama softball as they head deeper into the season. 

With that being said, let's take a look at some of the specific pros and cons from Alabama's first 14 games of the season:

Pros

• Alabama has shown the makings of an explosive offense, scoring 97 total runs in 14 games which is good for an average of 6.9 per game. They have also hit 18 home runs with Ashley Prange and Kenleigh Cahalan accounting for half of them. Cahalan, a 17-year-old freshman, has been a revelation for the Crimson Tide, recording a hit in every single game.

• Montana Fouts has been Montana Fouts. She has a 2.44 ERA and compiled 71 strikeouts, leading to a 6-1 record. Fouts has already thrown four complete games and was able to lead Alabama to a 2-1 victory over No. 6 ranked Florida State.

• Another bright spot in the pitching staff has been Michigan transfer Lauren Esman. She has a 1.78 ERA over 19.1 innings pitched and looks as if she could be the second pitcher behind Montana Fouts.

• The Crimson Tide beat three ranked teams at the Clearwater Invitational proving they can be one of the top teams in the sport.

Cons

• While Fouts has been great, the Crimson Tide have struggled to find consistency amongst the other pitchers. Jaala Torrence and Alex Salter have struggled at times and will need to improve so that Alabama can still win games when their ace isn't in the circle.

• The Crimson Tide have committed 13 errors for the season, good for almost one a game. While fielding miscues are bound to happen and it's still early, Alabama will need to clean up those mistakes if they want to beat the top teams.

• While the power has been there, Alabama has struggled at times to "pass the bat down" as head coach Patrick Murphy says. When runners get on base, the Crimson Tide will need to get better at driving them in and keeping the inning going.

Pros and cons aside, it has been a promising start for the Alabama Crimson Tide and they'll look to continue to improve and build upon their success as they head closer to conference play.

Watch the video at the top of the page where BamaCentral's Clay Miller and Katie Windham discuss Alabama softball's early-season pros and cons.

See Also:

Brandon Miller Not Named SEC Freshman of the Week Despite 65-Point Week

No. 20 Alabama’s Bullpen Holds Sturdy to Finish Series Sweep of High Point

No. 7 Alabama Softball Drops Stunner to Kennesaw State in Weekend Finale