Alabama Softball’s Pitching Rotation Has Dominated the Circle

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide softball team is a perfect 13-0 on the season with sweeps in the Buzz Classic and the Easton Bama Bash, while also being 2-0 in the current Green & Gold Classic.

The Crimson Tide has played elite on both sides of the ball, but one group in particular has impressed in Alabama’s early season, the starters in the circle.

The pitching rotation of Lauren Esman, Kayla Beaver, Jaala Torrece, Alex Salter, Alea Johnson, and Jocelyn Briski have been a consistent piece of Team 28’s success so far this season. As a whole, the group has recorded five shutouts and 12 total runs in 2024.

After the Crimson Tide’s victories against UAB and Western Carolina on Friday night, head coach Patrick Murphy spoke on the pitchers and what makes this group so special.

“Amazing,” said Murphy. “First of all, we have six. It’s the most we’ve ever had so I gotta give a lot of credit or all the credit to Lance McMahon, our pitching coach who’s handled them very well. Our catchers have been terrific and when you have six people, all six do something different. We have a lefty, five righties but all the righties have something different and when you have that different look like we did tonight with Jaala and Alea, totally different pitchers and you saw the result. I think Alea had three or four K’s and just dominated.”

The Crimson Tide will continue its impressive start to the season in Day 2 of the Green & Gold Classic on Saturday afternoon against Bradley and North Alabama.