Alyson Habetz Returns to Tuscaloosa to Face Alabama Crimson Tide Softball

A familiar face returns to Rhoads Stadium in the form of long-time assistant coach Alyson Habetz. She was Patrick Murphy’s top lieutenant for 25 seasons of Alabama softball from 1999 to 2023 when she stepped down to be closer to her elderly parents in Louisiana. After a year off, a string of coaching carousel moves left an opening at her nearby alma mater Louisiana-Lafayette. She brings her Ragin’ Cajuns to Tuscaloosa for the Something-Something Classic.

It will be a reunion, but also many new faces on Bama that she does not know. Only Kali Heivilin, Kristen White, Abby Duchscherer, Larissa Preuitt, and Marlie Giles remain from the 2023 team – her last in crimson and white. Habetz might know some of the younger girls from recruiting.

MIDWEEK

Alabama 9, Samford 2 – The Tide (16-6) traveled to Birmingham on Tuesday afternoon. Bama scored two in the 1st but starter Alea Johnson returned the favor and gave up three singles and a sac fly to knot it up 2-2. Jocelyn Briski relieved in the 2nd inning and went the distance, allowing only two hits and one walk.

Alabama scored three in the 2nd and two in the 3rd on back-to-back homers by Abby Duchscherer and Heivilin.

Two more runners crossed home plate in the 6th via single-walk-walk-HBP-SAC to go up 9-2. However, the Crimson Tide could not get to the elusive 8-run margin to end the game on the Run Rule.

Lauren Johnson, Duke, and Audrey Vandagriff had two hits each. On the downside, Bama committed two more errors – one by Johnson and one by Salen Hawkins.

RANKINGS & ACCOLADES

Alabama’s rankings are # 19/21/21/22.

Audrey Vandagriff enters the weekend as the NCAA leader in stolen bases (27) and stolen bases per game (1.23). In 2008, Brittany Rogers set the school record of 60 in a season. As a team, the Tide is 7th in both thefts at 60 and in swipes per game at 2.86.

Of note: No Alabama players have been recognized as SEC Softball Players of the Week so far this season. The categories are Players of the Week, Pitcher of the Week, and Freshmen of the Week. There are often two of each.

BAMA SCHEDULE

• Friday, Mar 7 vs ULL 4pm/5pm Tuscaloosa, AL
• Friday, Mar 7 vs Iowa 6pm/7pm* Tuscaloosa, AL
• Saturday, Mar 8 vs Iowa 1pm/2pm Tuscaloosa, AL
• Saturday, Mar 8 vs ULL 3pm/4pm* Tuscaloosa, AL

* Doubtful that these games start on time.

HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY

All games can only be seen on SEC+. That will be $12 please.

IOWA (13-5)

The Hawkeyes have a nice record, but have yet to beat a “Power” team. The losses came to Tennessee, Texas Tech, Mizzou, and twice to Arkansas. All but the Mizzou game were 5 inning run rule defeats. But give them credit that they have not fallen to any directional school whose mascot you probably cannot name.

Hannah Lindsay has a .348 BA with 2 doubles, 3 homers and 20 RBI. Soo-Jin Berry is at .302, 3 DBL, 4 HR, 11 RBI. Four other players have one round-tripper each for a team total of 11 – 106th in the nation. So… not a lot of homers. Their .286 team average is 121st in the nation.

Jalen Adams (10-1, 0.69 ERA) is the number one Iowa pitcher with 7 complete games and 4 shutouts.

ULL (11-6)

The Rajuns had a rough start to the season losing to Seton Hall, followed by a run rule defeat to Texas. They then won five straight including an extra innings thriller against Ole Miss. But then fell to Sam Houston and Ole Miss got their revenge a few days later. Another five wins were followed by two-game setback at Auburn. Most recently on Wednesday, Laffy was demolished at Mississippi State to the tune of 1-14 (5 inn). The Bullies had 17 hits with five of them leaving the yard.

Senior Kayla Falterman is off to a hot start for ULL with a .457 batting average. Team BA is .321 which sounds good, but that number ranks them somewhere in the 50’s in the nation. The RC’s have only 8 home runs as a team with 5 of those belonging to freshman Emily Smith.

Habetz has four pitchers and each has multiple starts with three of them hurling 28 or more innings. All of them are righties. Team ERA is 3.41. Walks appear to be a problem.

TEN CENT ANALYSIS

Both of these opponents seem to take care of business against cupcake directional schools and mid-level teams, but have problems with Power teams. Sound familiar? This little tournament might just expose which category the Tide falls in. The Tide pitching probably is what it is. The real sticking point will be if the offense can continue to produce runs as the opposing pitchers get better.

WEATHER

It should be pleasant weather for the Friday games with a high near 70, but bring a jacket. Saturday will be a smidge cooler and cloudy.

#RollTide #Team29