Softball 2026-expectations?

[Krymsonman]

Another win today. Don’t sleep on Dartmouth. The pitcher Jensin Hall is a player. She was a senior in the softball team when my daughter was a freshman. Jensin had over 700 career strikeouts. We rode her arm all the way to the state semifinals. Anna Brown, who was the Gatorade 5A player of the year in 2023, is now at Florida. Her arm and bat did us in.

Thanks for the info. I was wondering why we only beat Dartmouth 3-2. I figured they must have a good pitcher, and now I know. Krymsonman

 

[BamaHoHo]

2026 Softball RPI

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

Maybe, just MAYBE, Murph is letting the hitting coach actually coach hitting and MAYBE he has changed his philosophy somewhat because their approach to hitting seems to be totally different this season and oddly enough it is producing more big hits.
The girls look like they are at the plate just trying to get good solid hits.

 

[Krymsonman]

Maybe, just MAYBE, Murph is letting the hitting coach actually coach hitting and MAYBE he has changed his philosophy somewhat because their approach to hitting seems to be totally different this season and oddly enough it is producing more big hits.
The girls look like they are at the plate just trying to get good solid hits.

Agree. I've watched a few games on TV so far this year, and we look completely different at the plate. We are patient, and don't swing at much out of the zone. And we definitely look like we want to crush the ball. No many weak swings this year. The ladies look great this year, and the pitching is definitely coming thru. We're about to hit the SEC schedule. Let's see how that plays out. I think we can do way better than last year.

 

[catsbane]

This has been a weak schedule, not unlike the last couple of years. I think though that the previous 2-3 teams would have found ways to lose 2 or 3 even against this schedule. I'm encouraged that this group has not. They seem to have a good chemistry.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Looks like we have at least two quality pitchers, and maybe a third. And as others have already pointed out, hitting is looking much better for both average and power.

Overall, it's an admittedly weak schedule thus far. But we're undefeated, and this team is looking infinitely better than last year, both in the circle and at the plate. And in our only true quality test, we beat then-#6 FSU like a drum twice in Tallahassee.

I'm cautiously optimistic. The only reason I'm not highly optimistic is that for several seasons now we've whooped up on inferior pre-conference competition only to struggle mightily in conference play....due to decent but not elite pitching and abysmal hitting.

So we won't know for sure until we get a few series into the SEC schedule. That starts this coming Friday with a three-game set in Oxford.

Still, I agree that this team just has a different feel from recent iterations. So far, the eye test is good. Let's turn it into sound performance against real competition.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Agree. I've watched a few games on TV so far this year, and we look completely different at the plate. We are patient, and don't swing at much out of the zone. And we definitely look like we want to crush the ball. No many weak swings this year. The ladies look great this year, and the pitching is definitely coming thru. We're about to hit the SEC schedule. Let's see how that plays out. I think we can do way better than last year.

The philosophy was that you got the best pitches to hit early in the count. I'm not sure I agree, but that was the thought process.

Problem there is we often swung quickly and got behind in the count after only a couple or three pitches. I can't count the number of swings at bad pitches, weak swings that came from being totally fooled, and three-pitch strikeouts I saw.

All that resulted in quick at-bats, a low pitch count for the opposing pitcher, and not much rest between innings for our own pitcher -- who felt that if she gave up only 2-3 runs, it was probably a loss.

It was maddeningly frustrating. Hoping that the new-found patience at the plate pays off on several fronts.

 

[bamamc1]

Bama has 3 LEGIT pitchers on this team and have gotten much needed help at the plate from a couple of true freshman hitters. I’m proud of the start they’ve had but I’m awaiting the vipers coming out of the pit as soon as they lose an SEC series on the road.