Alabama’s softball season comes to an end with loss in Women’s College World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (WAKA) – Alabama softball’s season has come to an end in the semifinal round of the Women’s College World Series, as the Crimson Tide fell twice to Texas Tech by scores of 5-4 and 1-0.

Alabama finished its season last night with a 56-9 record, its most wins since 2019 and its highest winning percentage (.862) since 2012. The team also finished with 102 home runs, a .567 slugging percentage and 26 shutouts, all of which are the second-highest season totals in program history. The pitching staff’s .174 batting average against ranks third all-time and the 108 runs allowed are the fourth lowest.

Texas Tech (61-8) won a back-and-forth opening contest that saw the Crimson Tide rally late from a 4-2 deficit with a two-run home run from Jena Young in the top of the seventh to tie the game with Alabama down to its final two outs. The Red Raiders answered right back in the bottom half with a leadoff solo home run giving them the walk-off victory and forcing a second if-necessary game. Alabama was limited to just two hits in a 2-0 shutout, but had a chance late bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

“I know you got your money’s worth with two doubleheaders today. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way, but I told the team in the locker room I was very proud of everybody. They represented the school, themselves and our state so very well all year from August 20th to June 1st. I couldn’t have asked for a better group,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said.

This year marked the Crimson Tide’s 16th Women’s College World Series appearance and its eighth appearance in the semifinals. Alabama hit 102 home runs, the second-highest total in program history and just its second 100+ homer season.

The pitching staff posted top-four program marks in shutouts (26 – 2nd), batting average against (.174 – 3rd) and fewest runs allowed (104 – 4th).

Brooke Wells and Alexis Pupillo finished the season ranked in the top five in program history in home runs (Wells: 24 – 3rd, Pupillo: 20 – 5th) and slugging percentage (Wells: .844 – 2nd, Pupillo: .775 – 5th).

— Information from the University of Alabama