There has been no shortage of storylines for Alabama sports this week. The softball pitching staff put together back-to-back incredible games, and the baseball team is still unbeaten with a 20-run win over their previous outing. University basketball squads were well represented with SEC postseason awards along with March Madness, and the gymnastics team is set to wrap up its regular season with Senior Day.
softball
What happened: The biggest story this past weekend at Rhodes Stadium was pitching. On March 4, Jala Torrance threw a no-hitter against Robert Morris. Montana Fouts followed his teammate on Sunday with the third perfect game of his stellar career against Longwood. Both games ended with run-rule victories, and the Crimson Tide won all of their games in the T-Mobile Crimson Classic. No. 9 Alabama (19-3) has won eight games in a row, carrying the success from its stellar weekend into its two midweek contests. The Crimson Tide defeated Western Michigan on Tuesday and UAB on Wednesday.
What’s on Deck: Wednesday’s matchup against UAB was Alabama’s first true road game of the spring. Five straight games away from home now await the Crimson Tide. The headliner of the Bevo Classic is a pair of top-10 games against Texas on Friday and Saturday. Alabama will also face Texas State and Wisconsin in Austin. Alabama’s run in the Classic begins on Friday with a 4 p.m. CT showdown between the Crimson Tide and Longhorns.
Names to know: Kenley Cahalan is still an offensive machine and has a six-game hitting streak, raising his season batting average to .400. Michigan transfer Lauren Essman still has the team’s lowest earned run average at 1.11, even behind Fouts’ Perfecto. Fouts continued his strong work and earned saves on Tuesday and Wednesday.
baseball
What happened: No. 18 Alabama won two midweek games, including its first road contest against Samford on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Crimson Tide is now 14–0 with conference play looming. The Tide scored 21 total runs in Wednesday’s rout against Alabama State. Last weekend, Alabama swept UIC with two games eliminated by the potential three-run rule. If it weren’t for a lone big inning by Samford, the Crimson Tide would have won four of their last five matchups. Alabama has scored in double digits in five of the six games.
What’s on Deck: Columbia visits Sewell–Thomas Stadium for the final series before Southeastern Conference play. The Lions (2-5) could score, scoring 15 runs each in two wins against UNC Wilmington and nine in two losses against the Skyhawks. The Ivy League squad struggled in a top-25 series early in the season, falling victim to a three-game sweep at the hands of the Virginia Cavaliers. The first pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Friday.
Names to know: Left fielder Tommy Seidl pitched a 4–4 win against Alabama State, allowing four runs batted in. Popular shortstop Jim Jarvis hit home runs in back-to-back games. Third baseman Colby Shelton’s four-game home run streak ended against the Hornets, as did his 10-game hitting streak. However, the rising star has shown remarkable offensive prowess in his short career, and one night off isn’t going to change that.
Exercise
What happened: No. 8 Alabama (6-5) lost to Missouri last Friday, but still found individual and group success with three event wins and one individual title each. These efforts were helped by Luisa Blanco’s third 10 this spring, which she achieved on beam. Despite these marks, the Crimson Tide scored a total of 196.750, while the Tigers went on to win 19–7. However, it was a strong team effort, and a good showing in the final SEC meeting of the regular season. Alabama is now 1-1 in their last two contests on the road, with the team’s performances in both close contests setting them up for more future success.
What’s on Deck: The final overall meeting of the regular season has arrived. That means Senior Night against Boise State at Coleman Coliseum. The Broncos (4-6) had a four-time winning streak against Minnesota last fall, which was only the second loss against the Golden Gophers this season. The Crimson Tide is seeking its first win since February 17th. This meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT.
Names to know: Blanco, a senior, has performed brilliantly week in and week out, winning on beam and floor in the team’s previous outings. Fellow senior Makari Doggett won the uneven bars title against Missouri, while graduate student Shallon Olsen took home the title on vault against the Tigers. Friday night’s competition features all the major contestants.
men’s basketball
What happened: No. 4 Alabama (26-5, 16-2 SEC) dropped its regular season finale to the Texas A&M Aggies inside Reed Arena but kept its top overall seed in the SEC Tournament. The Aggies pulled away and the Crimson Tide fought back for a 67–61 victory. Freshman Brandon Miller led the way with 19 points, but only two others scored in double figures—Jahvon Queenly (12) and Noah Clowney (11). Alabama outscored the Aggies by four in the final 20 minutes, but it was not enough in a game where the Crimson Tide saddled themselves with 18 turnovers and went 7-for-36 from beyond the arc.
What’s on Deck: The SEC Tournament opener is next on the docket. Alabama begins play Friday afternoon against the ninth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs, a team seeking to shore up its bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Florida in overtime on Thursday. The Crimson Tide opened league play against Mississippi State in Starkville and won 78–67. Alabama won 66–63 in a close affair on January 25 in Tuscaloosa. Similarly this season, when Alabama won the 2020–21 SEC regular season, it also played the Bulldogs three times and opened its conference tournament against them. Tipoff is scheduled for the noon whistle on Friday.
Names to know: The Crimson Tide won several SEC postseason honors. Miller was named SEC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, in addition to earning spots on the All-SEC First Team and All-Freshman Team. Queenerly was co-sixth man of the year. Clowney and Jaden Bradley each joined Miller on the All-Freshman squad. Mark Sears was named to the All-SEC Second Team, and center Charles Bediako is a member of the All-Defensive Team.
women’s basketball
What’s on Deck: The Alabama women’s basketball team has not played since dropping their SEC Tournament opener to Kentucky on March 2. Sunday at the end of this week. The selection show begins at 7 p.m. CT.
Names to know: Guards Brittany Davis and Hannah Barber were honored with SEC postseason awards. Davis was named to the All-SEC first team, and Barber was the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Both players are vital to the team’s success, with their abilities at 3-point range being a vital component to the Crimson Tide’s offense.
