14 years. It has been 14 years since the Crimson Tide rose the championship trophy in Oklahoma City, OK. That year of 2012 was also the year that this guy started covering Alabama softball for RBR. Silly me, I thought there would be several more National Championship trophies added to the trophy case in Tuscaloosa in the years that followed. In that time, there has been a lot of hope and a lot of disappointment. I (we) have made some enemies of the hardcore Patrick Murphy cult who thinks the man can do no wrong, because we speak honestly of what is needed in order to get back to the top of that mountain. This year, there have been some observations in improving the performances but way less than other years.
I saw one of the Lollipop Rainbow Unicorns comment on social media that “this is the team we have always wanted.” That is crap. They have accepted whatever their lord and master puts out there. The correct pronouncement is that “this is the team WE have always wanted.” By the word “we”, I mean US – you the commenters with me who care about this program and are only satisfied with championships. “Good try” and “we’ll get ‘em next year” performances are not good enough.
For years, WE have been pining for more than just one or two power hitters. WE have been asking to de-emphasize the antiquated bunt/slap strategy. WE have been hoping for more than one pitcher who gets stuck carrying a team. WE have been criticizing the off-the-field power that some certain players have held in team decision-making. Here in 2026, it sure looks like WE finally have that team that WE have always wanted. Now please don’t break our hearts.🥰
- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced their Division I All-America teams Wednesday. Alabama’s Jocelyn Briski was selected as a first team, Brooke Wells made the second team, and Alexis Pupillo third. The NFCA is the oldest (1983) and most prestigious organization to release polls and All-American teams.
- D1Softball has Briski pegged as Pitcher of the Year and Patrick Murphy as Coach of the Year.
- NCAA.com tabbed Briski as their Most Improved Award recipient.
- Audrey Vandagriff was named the recipient of this year’s Elite Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2026 Women’s College World Series. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s championships. Vandagriff carries a 4.0 GPA in Sport Management and is a Dean’s List honoree and three-time President’s List selection.
- UCLA at Alabama, Thursday, May 28, 6pm/7pm – ESPN2
- Winner of this bracket plays the winner of Arkansas-Nebraska on Saturday, May 30, 6pm/7pm – ESPN
- Loser plays loser of Arkansas-Nebraska on Sunday, May 31, 6pm/7pm – ESPN2
HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY
All Alabama games will be on ESPN or ESPN2.
Cloudy, 79°, and a little humid.
UCLA (52-8 overall, 20-4 B1G) PREVIEW
After five cupcakes to open the 2026 season, the Bruins struggled in Clearwater, dropping games to Oklahoma State, Tennessee (11-0 run rule), and Florida State, while beating Missouri and LSU. A tournament in Palm Springs, California netted UCLA wins over Auburn, Duke, South Carolina, and Texas A&M and began a 22-game run of victories. That winning streak would come to a screeching halt in Lincoln, NE with fellow Big Ten team Cornhuskers taking two of three. A 15-game roll over conference competition and a few midweek cupcakes would follow, but again when up against an elite, the Bruins had some trouble. Oregon took 2 of 3 in Los Angeles.
In the Big Ten Tournament, the Westwood Wonders defeated Penn State and Wisconsin but again fell to Nebraska.
The Lady Bruins got by Cal Baptist and South Carolina in the Regional. In the Supers, the Bru Crew were fortunate to have to face Center Florida who upset Florida State in the Regional. The Bulls were thumped in two games by a collective 23-5.
There is no doubt that this game will be the biggest challenge for the Alabama pitching staff all year.
Jordan Woolery was named Softball America’s National Player of the Year after she smacked 34 balls out of the park and knocked in a ridiculous 112 runs. She also sports a .500 batting average. Right behind her (barely) is Megan Grant with a nation-leading 40 round-trippers and on-base percentage of .650 to go with 87 RBI and a .469 BA. Grant and Woolery are 1-2 in the nation in slugging percentage at mind-boggling 1.333 and 1.161.
Leadoff hitter Rylee Slimp (.428 BA, 16 HR, 56 RBI) is tops in the country in scoring, crossing the plate 94 times in 2026. UCLA has eight players with double-digit homers and four with twenty or more.
Bri Alejandre (.328, 24, 81) and Aleena Garcia (.367, 21, 68) are also forces to be dealt with.
TL/DR: As a team, the Bruinettes lead the nation in team batting average (.385), home run total, home runs per game (3.33), scoring (10.85 runs per game), on-base (.496), slugging (.836), and many other categories.
For all the SportsCenter highlights about the UCLA offense, the Achilles’ heel for UCLA is their pitching. The team ERA is a voluminous 4.32. The Bruins employ four pitchers – none of whom have an ERA under 3.00.
Taylor Tinsley (32-6, 3.02 ERA) is the best of the bunch and carries most of the load. Her 215.0 innings of work are sixth most in the good ol’ USA. Her strikeout to walk ratio is 2.13 which is not great. The NCAA only keeps track of the top 150 Division I-A pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched in that category and the 150th hurler is at 2.20 – if that gives you any indication. In 16 appearances this season, Tinsley allowed four or more runs in a game and twice gave up 10 runs (Oregon, Cal Baptist).
Natalie Cable (6.72 ERA), Brynne Nally (5.74) and Sydney Somerndike (5.86) are next in line, but it would be surprising to see any of them unless things really go off the rails for Tinsley – who has 24 complete games.
UCLA is meh in fielding with a .972 success rate.
Kelly Inouye-Perez is in her 20th season at the helm of the Bruins. Her teams have reached the WCWS ten out of the last 11 campaigns with the 2010 and 2019 teams winning it all.
All that talk about their offense is mighty scary. However, it should be noted that the B’s feasted on Big Ten pitching of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Rutgers, and Illinois this season. There is no longer Arizona, Arizona State, and Stanford from the former Pac-10 to contend with. In addition, UCLA lost five of seven against their toughest B1G competition in Nebraska and Oregon. [They did sweep Washington, but the Huskies were rather blah this season.]
The blue and gold score a lot of runs but the Crimson Tide have that capability as well, especially when they are not facing one of the elite pitchers in softball and UCLA does not have one of those. If I was a betting man, I would give the Tide the edge in this one.
