Alabama Crimson Tide softball

College softball team

Alabama Crimson Tide

2025 Alabama Crimson Tide softball team
Founded| 1997 (28 years ago)
University| University of Alabama
Athletic director| Greg Byrne
Head coach| Patrick Murphy (27th season)
Conference| SEC
Location| Tuscaloosa, AL
Home stadium| Rhoads Stadium (Capacity: 3,940)
Nickname| Crimson Tide
Colors| Crimson and white[1]

NCAA Tournament champions
2012
NCAA WCWS runner-up
2014
NCAA WCWS appearances
2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
NCAA Super Regional appearances
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference Tournament championships
1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2021
Regular Season Conference championships
2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019

The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is currently led by head coach Patrick Murphy and assistant coaches Lance McMahon and Kayla Braud. The team plays its home games at the Rhoads Stadium located on the university's campus. The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team won its first national championship in 2012, after they defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the championship series of the Women's College World Series.

## History

[edit]

On September 28, 1995, Alabama athletics director Glen Tuckett announced the school would sponsor a softball program to begin play in the 1997 season.[2] At the time of its addition, softball became both the 20th varsity sport overall and 11th women's sport sponsored at Alabama.[2] On January 3, 1996, Kalum Haack was hired from Kansas to serve as the first head coach for the team.[3] The next spring, Haack recruited his first class for the inaugural 1997 team.[3] On February 15, 1997, Alabama defeated Tulsa 5–2 in their first all-time game at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.[4] Two weeks later, the Crimson Tide won their first all-time home game in their home opener at Sokol Park against Delta State 4–3.[5]

After he led the Crimson Tide in their inaugural season and to their first SEC championship in their second season, on June 30, 1998, Haack resigned as head coach.[6] He cited personal reasons for his resignation.[6] During his two-year stint as head coach, Haack compiled an overall record of 78 wins and 47 losses (78–47).[6] A week later on July 9, Alabama assistant coach Patrick Murphy was promoted to the Crimson Tide's head coach position.[7]

Since Murphy took over in 1999, the Crimson Tide has won 12 SEC championships (6 regular season and 6 tournaments), made 17 consecutive NCAA tournaments (every year since 1999) and have advanced to the Women's College World Series ten times.[8][9] In 2012, Alabama defeated the Oklahoma Sooners, 2 games to 1, in the championship series of the Women's College World Series, to win its first national championship in school history and the first softball national championship in the history of the SEC.[10]

A Crimson Tide softball player takes the field before a game at Rhoads Stadium

## Head coaches

[edit]

Name  | Years  | Record  | %

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Kalum Haack  | 1997–1998  | 78–47  | .624
Patrick Murphy | 1999–present  | 1,083–303  | .781

## Year-by-year records

[edit]

Statistics overview  Season  | Coach  | Overall  | Conference  | Standing  | Postseason

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Southeastern Conference (1997–present)
1997  | Kalum Haack | 29–29 | 16–14 | 2nd (Western) | SEC tournament (0–2)
1998  | Kalum Haack | 49–18 | 19–7 | 2nd (Western) | SEC tournament (4–1)
1999  | Patrick Murphy | 39–26 | 19–11 | 2nd (Western) | SEC tournament (1–2)
NCAA Regional (0–2)
2000  | Patrick Murphy  | 66–14 | 25–5 | 2nd (Western) | SEC tournament (2–2)
NCAA Regional (4–0)
College World Series (1–2)
2001  | Patrick Murphy  | 50–11 | 24–6 | 2nd (Western) | SEC tournament (1–2)
NCAA Regional (2–2)
2002  | Patrick Murphy  | 46–21 | 22–8 | 2nd (Western) | SEC tournament (2–2)
NCAA Regional (0–2)
2003  | Patrick Murphy  | 49–21 | 22–8 | 1st (Western) | SEC tournament (4–0)
NCAA Regional (4–0)
College World Series (0–2)
2004  | Patrick Murphy  | 45–20 | 18–12 | 3rd (Western) | SEC tournament (1–2)
NCAA Regional (3–2)
2005  | Patrick Murphy  | 63–15 | 23–7 | 1st (Western) | SEC tournament (4–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (1–2)
2006  | Patrick Murphy  | 54–11 | 25–4 | 1st | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (0–2)
2007  | Patrick Murphy  | 55–10 | 21–6 | 2nd (Western) | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (4–1)
NCAA Super Regional (0–2)
2008  | Patrick Murphy  | 58–8 | 25–3 | 1st (Western) | SEC tournament (2–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (2–2)
2009  | Patrick Murphy  | 54–11 | 21–6 | 1st (Western) | SEC tournament (2–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (2–2)
2010  | Patrick Murphy  | 52–11 | 23–4 | 1st | SEC tournament (3–0)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (1–2)
2011  | Patrick Murphy  | 51–9 | 19–6 | 1st | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–1)
College World Series (2–2)
2012  | Patrick Murphy  | 60–8 | 23–5 | 1st | SEC tournament (3–0)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (5–1)
2013  | Patrick Murphy  | 45–15 | 13–11 | 3rd (Western) | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (0–2)
2014  | Patrick Murphy  | 53–13 | 19–5 | 1st | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (3–2)
2015  | Patrick Murphy  | 48–15 | 17–7 | 3rd | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–1)
College World Series (1–2)
2016  | Patrick Murphy  | 51–12 | 17–8 | 5th | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (0–2)
2017  | Patrick Murphy  | 46–18 | 12–11 | 5th | SEC tournament (2–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (1–2)
2018  | Patrick Murphy  | 36–20 | 12–12 | 8th | SEC tournament (1–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (0–2)
2019  | Patrick Murphy  | 60–10 | 18–6 | 1st | SEC tournament (2–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–1)
College World Series (3–2)
2020  | Patrick Murphy  | 14–8 | 2–1 |  | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021  | Patrick Murphy  | 52–9 | 18–6 | 3rd | SEC tournament (3–0)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–0)
College World Series (2–2)
2022  | Patrick Murphy  | 44–13 | 16–8 | 2nd | SEC Tournament (0–1)
NCAA Regional (3–2)
2023  | Patrick Murphy  | 45–22 | 14–10 | 5th | SEC Tournament (2–1)
NCAA Regional (3–1)
NCAA Super Regional (2–1)
College World Series (0–2)
2024  | Patrick Murphy  | 39–20 | 10–14 | 9th | SEC Tournament (0–1)
NCAA Regional (3–0)
NCAA Super Regional (2–1)
College World Series (1–2)
Total: | 1,330–403 | 481–195 |

National champion Postseason invitational champion
Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion

### NCAA Tournament seeding history

[edit]

National seeding began in 2005. The Alabama Crimson Tide are one of only two teams to have a national seed every year, along with Tennessee.

Years →  | '05 | '06 | '07 | '08 | '09 | '10 | '11 | '12 | '13 | '14 | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24

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Seeds → | 12 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14

## Awards and honors

[edit]

### National awards

[edit]

NFCA National Pitcher of the Year

* Montana Fouts (2021)

Softball America Pitcher of the Year

* Montana Fouts (2023)

D1Softball Pitcher of the Year

* Montana Fouts (2021)

Honda Sports Award

* Montana Fouts (2023)

### Conference awards

[edit]

SEC Player of the Year

* Charlotte Morgan (2009, 2010)
* Bailey Hemphill (2021)

SEC Pitcher of the Year

* Stephanie VanBrakle (2006)
* Kelsi Dunne (2010, 2011)
* Jackie Traina (2012, 2014)
* Sarah Cornell (2019)
* Montana Fouts (2021)

SEC Freshman of the Year

* Lacy Prejean (2000)
* Jackie McClain (2001)
* Stephanie VanBrakle (2003)
* Brittany Rogers (2006)
* Kelsi Dunne (2008)
* Amanda Locke (2009)
* Kayla Braud (2010)
* Alexis Osorio (2015)
* Montana Fouts (2019)

## Alabama's Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans

[edit]

Player  | Year(s)

|

Kelly Kretschman | 1998, 1999, 2000†, 2001†
Carrie Moreman  | 1999
Ginger Jones  | 2000†
Shelley Laird  | 2000, 2001
Suzanne Olcott  | 2001
Ashley Courtney  | 2002†, 2005
Jackie McClain  | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Stephanie VanBrakle  | 2005, 2006
Brittany Rogers | 2006, 2007, 2008†, 2009
Lauren Parker  | 2007†
Chrissy Owens  | 2007
Kelley Montalvo  | 2008†
Charlotte Morgan | 2008†, 2009†, 2010
Kelsi Dunne  | 2008, 2009†, 2010, 2011†
Kayla Braud  | 2010, 2011†, 2013†
Whitney Larsen  | 2011
Jackie Traina  | 2011†, 2012†, 2013, 2014†
Kaila Hunt  | 2012, 2013
Amanda Locke  | 2012
Jennifer Fenton  | 2012
Haylie McCleney  | 2013, 2014†, 2015†, 2016†
Alexis Osorio  | 2015, 2017†
Marisa Runyon  | 2015
Demi Turner  | 2015
Leona Lafaele  | 2016
Sydney Littlejohn  | 2016
Kaylee Tow  | 2018, 2019, 2021
Bailey Hemphill | 2019, 2021†
Montana Fouts | 2019, 2021†
Reference:[11]

†Denotes 1st Team selection

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA Division I softball programs

## References

[edit]

General

* 2012 University of Alabama Softball Media Guide (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Communications Office. 2012. p. 71\. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2012.

Specific

1. ^ "Alabama Crimson Tide Logo Sheet" (PDF). June 28, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
2. ^ a b "Bama will sponsor women's softball program". The Tuscaloosa News. September 29, 1995. p. C4. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
3. ^ a b "Haack to direct Bama softball". The Tuscaloosa News. January 4, 1996. p. C3. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
4. ^ "Tide softball team opens season with win". The Tuscaloosa News. February 16, 1997. p. C8. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
5. ^ Deas, Tommy (February 28, 1997). "Alabama softball team triumphs in home opener". The Tuscaloosa News. p. C1. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
6. ^ a b c Deas, Tommy (July 1, 1998). "Bama softball coach Kalum Haack resigns". The Tuscaloosa News. p. C1. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
7. ^ Deas, Tommy (July 10, 1998). "Murphy takes over Bama softball". The Tuscaloosa News. p. C1. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
8. ^ "Tide softball season ends with loss to ASU, 3–1". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations - RollTide.com. June 1, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
9. ^ "Alabama softball falls to Florida 6–5, ending its Women's College World Series run". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations - RollTide.com. May 31, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
10. ^ Hays, Graham (June 7, 2012). "Alabama's title a milestone for SEC". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
11. ^ 2012 University of Alabama Softball Media Guide, p. 50

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Alabama Crimson Tide softball

Head coaches|

* Kalum Haack (1997–1998)
* Patrick Murphy (1999–present)

Venues|

* Sokol Park (1997)
* Bowers Park (1998–1999)
* Rhoads Stadium (2000–present)

Seasons|

* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

National Championships in bold; College World Series appearances in italics

* v
* t
* e

University of Alabama

Located in: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Academics|

* College of Communication and Information Sciences
* School of Law
* College of Community Health Sciences

People|

* Bear Bryant
* George H. Denny
* Amelia Gayle Gorgas
* James Hood
* Autherine Lucy
* Vivian Malone
* Julia Tutwiler
* Presidents

Campus|

* Arboretum
* Archaeological Park
* Auditorium
* Chimes
* Insurance Hall of Fame
* Museum of Natural History
* New Observatory
* Old Observatory
* Paul W. Bryant Museum
* President's Mansion
* The Quad
* Strode House

Athletics|

| Programs|

* Football
* Men's basketball
* Baseball
* Golf
* Gymnastics
* Soccer
* Softball
* Volleyball
* Women's basketball

|

Facilities|

* Alabama Soccer Stadium
* Bryant–Denny Stadium
* Coleman Coliseum
* Foster Auditorium
* Rhoads Stadium
* Sewell–Thomas Stadium

History|

* Timeline
* Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett
* Historic District
* Lucy v. Adams
* Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
* 1963 documentary
* Bishop v. Aronov

Media|

* Alabama Public Radio
* The Bear Bryant Show
* Crimson Tide Sports Network
* The Crimson White
* University of Alabama Press
* WVUA-FM
* WVUA-CD

Other|

* Big Al
* Center for Advanced Public Safety
* Crimsonettes
* CrimsonRide
* "The Machine"
* Million Dollar Band
* Traditions
* University of Alabama System

* Endowment: $631.95 million
* Students: 37,100
* Faculty: 1,175

* v
* t
* e

Southeastern Conference softball

Teams|

* Alabama Crimson Tide
* Arkansas Razorbacks
* Auburn Tigers
* Florida Gators
* Georgia Bulldogs
* Kentucky Wildcats
* LSU Tigers
* Mississippi State Bulldogs
* Missouri Tigers
* Oklahoma Sooners
* Ole Miss Rebels
* South Carolina Gamecocks
* Tennessee Lady Volunteers
* Texas Longhorns
* Texas A&M Aggies

Championships & Awards|

* Tournament
* Player of the Year
* Pitcher of the Year
* Freshman of the Year
* Coach of the Year

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