Bama vs Auburn Softball Series

[Krymsonman]

Lead off walk to Heivilin. Auburn pitching change. Bringing in their starter from yesterday. We need to jump right on her. And she walks Broadfoot. Two on, nobody out for BAMA. First time we've had a runner in scoring position all game. We can't get the bunt down... then we strike out on a ball head high. Can't move the runners. Sharp single to left, but not deep enough to score. Bases loaded, 1 out. Dowling - ugly K. Two down, bases loaded. Lauren Johnson lines out to third base. BAMA can't score. I have to call our hitting the last few week atrocious. Going to the bottom of 7th. Hope we can keep Auburn from scoring.

 

[Krymsonman]

Auburn lead off flies out to RF. Second batter rips one down the line - looked like it might be a double. Jenna Johnson got the ball in quickly and caught the runner trying to go back to first. Two down. Beaver holds them down. Going to the 8th inning. My kingdom for a couple of BAMA runs.

 

[Krymsonman]

Top of 8th: Lead off double by Cahalan. Johnson rips - (yes, ripped), a line drive but right at the third baseman. one down. Clark pops out to left field - two down. Intentional walk to Heivilin. Broadfoot flies out to leftfield. No score for BAMA. I swear we have to lead the nation in routine pop outs.

 

[Tide Rev]

You would think we would have someone that could hit the ball on the ground and make them make a play.

 

[Krymsonman]

Bottom of 8th - Beaver starts with a K - one down.

You would think we would have someone that could hit the ball on the ground and make them make a play.

A reasonable person would think that.

 

[Krymsonman]

Beaver shuts them down again. Going to the 9th. I can't believe we haven't scored a single run yet.

 

[Krymsonman]

We get lead off on - can't get the bunt down, then strike out looking. Then an infield pop up. Then a cue ball single. First and third - two down. Cahalan flies out to the track in right field. Going to bottom of the 9th.

 

[Krymsonman]

Beaver shuts them down again. Going to the 10th inning. Hey BAMA, please score!!

 

[Krymsonman]

BAMA had two on - one out, and Broadfoot hits into a double play. I give up.

 

[major tidefan]

 

[Krymsonman]

Lead off single for Auburn in the bottom of the 10th. Bunted to 2nd base - one down. Beaver gets a K - two down. WP - runner moves to 3rd. Beaver gets another K. Let's play 11.

 

[Krymsonman]

Lead off gets on for BAMA - again. Valentine can't get the bunt down again. Then strikes out looking again. Pitch was right there. Dowling - single to left. First and second - 1 out - again. WP by Auburn - runners advance. 2nd and 3rd, 1 out. Shallow pop up to centerfield. Can't advance - 2 down. Calahan rips a single thru the right side. Two runs score! BAMA leads 2-0.

 

[Tide Rev]

Finally!

 

[major tidefan]

Calahan rips a single thru the right side. Two runs score! BAMA leads 2-0.

 

[Krymsonman]

Beaver gets them 1-2-3. BAMA wins 2-0. Rubber game tomorrow at 11am. Based on how we score runs, (or don't score them), we must hate our pitchers. Roll Tide.

 

[BamaHoHo]

As I write this, it’s still 4-0 barn, just starting our half of the 6th. Through five innings, we have one hit. Update: First batter bunted on. Second batter grounded into a double-play. Final batter pops to SS.

So far, it’s a microcosm of the year. Pitching is on and off. Tonight off. Fielding is suspect with way too many mental errors. Hitting is consistently lacking against any except bad competition.

To my mind, while pitching and fielding could be better, it’s at heart a hitting issue.

Case in point: We went 1-2 against Tennessee last weekend. Staved off a sweep at home only by winning the last game 1-0. That single run was the sole score in three games. 21 innings / 63 outs and one run.

This has been coming for some time now. Bailey Hemphill and Montana Fouts masked the problem for 5 years. They’re graduated, and there’s no longer anyplace to hide.

The mass exodus after the 2021-22 season was badly telling. Two cases in point: KB Sides was better-than-average in Tuscaloosa, but no superstar. She won SEC POY the next year at Arky. Skylar Wallace, who spent her first two years in Tuscaloosa, was the SEC POY last year….for Florida.

This year is what it is….not anywhere close to standard. Murphy has a mountain of work to do to salvage the future.

Murphy is 58 and has 26 or 27 years in the state retirement system, currently making a salary over $500K (deal signed a year ago). The deal runs through 2028. Don't know the buyout.

IOW, he could walk away and have a really nice lifestyle the rest of his days. Whether the decision is his or Greg Byrne’s, I’ll be mildly surprised if he’s the coach next year. If Murphy stays, I think it'll be because of a buyout Byrne isn't willing to pay and he (Murphy) isn't willing to walk away from.

Don't forget Kilfoyl is 19-3 with a 1.16 ERA for OK State. Sure would be nice to have back.

 

[catsbane]

Be interesting to see who gets the start today. Could be that hosting a regional is riding on a win today. For either team, though I think Auburn is a longer shot.

 

[JDCrimson]

I would not invite this Bama team to a regional...

 

[Krymsonman]

Game 3: Because Beaver pitched late yesterday Briski gets the start. She had a good first inning but fell apart in the second inning. She's given up 1 run so far, with runners at 2nd and 3rd - 1 out. Being replaced by Beaver.

Beaver gets a K, then gives up a single to right. One run scores, but a great throw to the plate gets the second runner. Then we had to wait and make sure Auburn didn't get the benefit of that stupid obstruction rule to confirm the out. It did go BAMA's way. But, the Barn is up 2-0 after 2 innings.

 

[Krymsonman]

BAMA's top of 3 - K, infield pop up, fly out to CF. We're already down 2, so we can't wait 11 innings to score.

Barn, bottom of 3 - ground out to 3rd, K, K. 2-0 Barn after 3 complete