Georgia took game 1 vs BAMA over in Athens. BAMA was up 1-0 on a solo homer. Stayed that way for a few innings, and Beaver was pitching well, but then gave up a 3 run dinger. We made it 3-2 the next inning with a solo shot off the right field foul pole. Beaver was replaced by Johnson in the 5th and went walk, run scoring single, walk, walk, and was replaced by Briski. Briski shut Georgia down the rest of the game. In a nutshell, we had 4 total hits, and left 8 on base for the game. Once again, if the ball doesn't leave the yard, we can't seem to score. It was another 0-for game with runners in scoring position. This just continues to baffle me. And, oh, we sure seem to look at a lot of good pitches to hit. Defensively we were great, pitching was good enough to win, we just can't seem to buy many hits. On to game 2 tomorrow.
Georgia Takes Game 1 vs BAMA
- Thread starter Krymsonman
- Start date
Game 2 off to a terrible start,already 6-0 Georgia after 2.Sara Mosley hits a grand slam for the dawgs.
Yes, especially since we walked the bases loaded to set up the grand slam. Georgia gets a 2 run shot in the first, followed by the grand slam in the second. We still can't buy a hit.
Hey, we get a run back thanks to playing a game at high noon in Georgia. SS loses one in the sun and left fielder can't get there. Then the CF, (ex-BAMA Dallas Goodnight), loses another fly ball in the sun.
6-1 Georgia, going to bottom of the 4th. Johnson now on to pitch for BAMA.
6-1 Georgia, going to bottom of the 4th. Johnson now on to pitch for BAMA.
Georgia adds 2 more in the bottom of the 4th, thanks to 2 walks to start the inning. Both walks ended up scoring. BAMA now flirting with getting run-ruled again. 8-1 Georgia after 4 complete.
The ladies don't quit. They load the bases with two seeing-eye singles and HBP with no outs. End up getting 2 runs when Dallas Goodnight loses another one in the sun in centerfield. 8-3 Georgia, going to bottom of 5th. If we could ever find any timely hitting, we could have scored a lot more there.
Georgia starts off the bottom of the 5th with another home run. Georgia leads the league in dingers, but their field is only 190 down the lines. This dinger may have been a to the wall shot at BAMA. Georgia then adds 2 more to run rule BAMA. Final is 11-3. I wish we could hit.
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We really haven't been able to hit in years against good competition. Bailey Hemphill was so good she masked weakness in the other 8 hitters. Since she graduated, the mask was gone and we haven't been able to score once we get into the conference (or face a good team in the non-conference schedule).
Only the fact we had the best pitcher in school history preserved a good record. Now that Montana's gone, there's no place to hide.
This situation has been coming for so long Mister Magoo could see it.
You are dead on right. We had 4 hits today, and 3 of them probably should have been outs. One was a pop up to short left that the SS lost in the sun. 2 of them were fly balls to CF that were lost in the sun and misplayed. We did have some opportunities to score, but couldn't do much at the plate to bring runs in. Shoot, we don't even seem to have "loud" outs. We look at good pitches to hit, then strike out on bad pitches. So far, against good teams, if we don't hit it out of the yard, we don't score. Murphy had a chance to bring in a real hitting coach and chose not to. Montana's not in the circle anymore. We need to score runs. Murphy made a comment today when they interviewed him in-game that we're playing for May and June right now. If they don't improve quick, there won't be a May and June to worry about.
It's painful to watch. It's been painful for years. My understanding was that Byrne asked him to get some help (ostensibly for hitting) in a new assistant coach. Murphy's response was to promote someone from within. That seemed like a not-too-subtle middle finger move from Murphy to Byrne.
Idk if Byrne really has a huge interest in softball. It’s really not a money sport. Alabama has a storied program and Murphy for better or worse was a large part in building it. Unless some huge scandal comes out then I think it’s safe to assume Murphy has a “until you retire” contract.
I see it a little differently, 81.
Byrne attends a lot of softball games. He sees what we all see, with what I hope are much better trained eyes.
I’ve also heard from reliable sources that Byrne wanted a dedicated hitting coach after last season’s substandard performance.
He had to be disappointed when the answer was an internal promotion. While that’s Murphy’s call to make, I have to think Byrne took it as Murphy saying, “Let me do my *^&%$#& job.” Maybe with a middle finger added, maybe not.
Either way, if I’m in Byrne’s chair, I think, “Well, he’s earned this call. But if it doesn’t work out, it’s the last one he’s earned.”
There have been rumblings about hitting for a few years amongst the fan base. With the Hemphill / Fouts masks being ripped off, they’re no longer rumblings. Combined with the mass exodus of players before the 2023 season, I honestly think Murphy is in danger of losing both the fans and Byrne.
We have a storied softball tradition….one of the top 5 in the country. We set attendance records every year. There is (or was, anyway) a waiting list for season tickets. Byrne won’t want to lose that level of support.
The next time Greg Byrne asks me my opinion on anything will be the first.
But I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he is conducting a quiet search as this is being typed.
Let’s just say “I’ll believe it when I see it”. I just don’t get the feeling that he will pull the trigger that has been needing to be pulled for the past 2 years.
IDK. But the more this goes on the more I see a Bobby Bowden situation.
For the good of the softball program, I think we both hope your gut feeling turns out to be inaccurate.
I’m more optimistic beyond this season because I think Byrne learns from other programs’ mistakes. And FSU’s coddling of Bowden for far too long is a prime example. Penn State and Joe Paterno before that.
Byrne’s the best in the business, and nobody ever called him stupid or unobservant. I think he has this situation in hand.
Which way he might be leaning, I don’t know. I do know he doesn’t react, but rather looks to the future pre-emptively. Point being, I think he’s already framed the keep / fire decision tree in his own mind, and has it down to the answers to a very few questions.
Plus, Murphy’s been in the retirement system for over 25 years at a pretty sporty salary. So there’s no humanitarian reason for keeping him on. He’s financially fixed for life at a relatively young age.
If events play out to “Fire,” Byrne also has a great track record of coaching hires: Oats, Vaughn, DeBoer.
Honestly, if I were Murphy, I’d be looking at retirement property.
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I was at church so only saw the 7th inning, but BAMA avoids the sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Dogs. We scored all of our runs in the 4th inning. Georgia put the first two on in the 7th, and ended up getting a run on a passed ball. We then had an intentional walk, followed by another walk and Georgia had the bases loaded with 2 down. It came down to a 3-2 pitch and Beaver got the K. At least we got the win, but we can't keep going 1-2 in conference series and expect to go any place.
I think Murphy wants to Atleast to be able to host Oklahoma. So I think he is atleast here until next year.
As far as Byrne being active in the softball business… softball is still not a money sport and what he actually pays Murphy is a bargain compared to what he is going to have to pay some hot up and comer to replace him. Murph makes far more of his money on camps and clinics. We are most likely going to get stuck with someone like Stephanie or someone else in the Murphy line with the current uncertainties in college athletics.
Just because an AD goes to games doesn’t mean they are putting a high priority on it. Battle went to many baseball and basketball games and refused to fire bad coaches on his own… and basically made a desperation hire in basketball and a “just give a name in Alabama a bigger job” hire in baseball. Byrne is light years better than Battle but I still wonder with the post saban era in football and the constant calls for new facilities in basketball if he would shell out enough to get an ace coach here for softball.
I saw the whole game, it's great to want to see your pitcher get a complete game, but in the 6th inning UGA was timing her pitches out perfectly.
None of her pitches in the 6th or 7th inning were below 70 mph, in looking at the game starting in the bottom of the 5th they were starting to smack her around pretty hard...
I would have used Johnson in the 6th and come back with Torrence in the 7th...
Either way Murph needs to take his glasses off and see what was happening from the 5th on...!
I wonder what Kayla was thinking, while watching that debacle playing out in front of her...!
I know the announcers were trying to appease the Bama fans by saying that Bama lost their first two SEC series and still made it to the CWS, but this team doesn't have the big 'M' this year...!
Picked to finish 7th this year may be on the optimistic side, but at this point I'll take it...
I think Bama's next softball HC just might be on the field already...!
None of her pitches in the 6th or 7th inning were below 70 mph, in looking at the game starting in the bottom of the 5th they were starting to smack her around pretty hard...
I would have used Johnson in the 6th and come back with Torrence in the 7th...
Either way Murph needs to take his glasses off and see what was happening from the 5th on...!
I wonder what Kayla was thinking, while watching that debacle playing out in front of her...!
I know the announcers were trying to appease the Bama fans by saying that Bama lost their first two SEC series and still made it to the CWS, but this team doesn't have the big 'M' this year...!
Picked to finish 7th this year may be on the optimistic side, but at this point I'll take it...
I think Bama's next softball HC just might be on the field already...!
I find my emotions ranging from a bit of hope, to serious concern, to pure panic this season. Salvaging 2 of the first 6 SEC games gives me a tad of hope, but this lack of hitting and seeing even our best pitcher get knocked around some makes it disappear quickly. From a pure record standpoint, we really need to sweep these next 2 series with UK and Ole Miss since those last 4 series of Aggies, ARKY, Tenn. Auburn will be extremely tough.
The post from Bama Buc makes me wonder if there is some kind of secret "handshake deal" for Kayla to learn for a couple of years and then take over. Maybe even Byrne is in on it? Sounds plausible.
The post from Bama Buc makes me wonder if there is some kind of secret "handshake deal" for Kayla to learn for a couple of years and then take over. Maybe even Byrne is in on it? Sounds plausible.
I missed both of them, but BAMA gets a split with Virginia Tech. BAMA wins 1-0 on Friday, and falls 8-3 in 8 innings today.. BAMA was down 3-0 going into the bottom of the 7th and scored 3 to tie the game. BAMA then gave up 5, yes 5 runs, in the top of the 8th to fall 8-3. Man, this is going to be one crazy up and down year.
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