Alabama improved to 24-0, surpassing the 22-0 start from 2013 for the fifth best start in program history, now just one win shy of tying the 25-0 start in 2007. But Arkansas is not going to make it easy for the Tide.
TUESDAY: ALABAMA 8, SAMFORD 1
Bama had 11 hits highlighted by a pair of Brooke Wells home runs, plus a solo dinger by Alexis Pupillo. Wells and Pup combined to go 6 for 7 with 5 runs scored and 5 RBI.
Kaitlyn Pallozzi did not give up a hit through the first 3 innings. In the 4th, she fell apart allowing a single, a triple and a hit-by-pitch to the first three Samford batters. Vic Moten slammed the door and tossed 3 no-hit innings. Alea Johnson closed it out with a 1-2-3 7th inning.
Of note, Abby Duchscherer was 0 for 3, leaving three runners on base. She is now below the Mendoza line at .194, but Patrick Murphy seems to be digging in his heels on this one.
ACCOLADES
Alabama’s Brooke Wells was named the SEC Player of the Week. In the last eight games, she is hitting .762, has six HR, 14 RBI, and 10 runs scored. Teammate Ana Roman is the SEC Freshman of the Week.
RAT POISON
No cahnges this week.
- Softball America 13 ↑ 8 ↑ 6 ↑ 4 ↔ 4 ↔ 4
- D1Softball 14 ↑ 10 ↑ 9 ↑ 8 ↑ 5 ↔ 5
- ESPN/USA Softball 16 ↑ 13 ↑ 9 ↑ 7 ↑ 6 ↔ 6
- USAToday/NFCA 15 ↑ 10 ↑ 8 ↑ 5 ↑ 4 ↔ 4
* Arkansas is ranked 5, 6, 9, 8 respectively.
SCHEDULE
- Fri, Mar 13 vs Arkansas 6pm/7pm
- Sat, Mar 14 vs Arkansas 2pm/3pm
- Sun, Mar 15 vs Arkansas 1:30/2:30
HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY
I can’t believe this series does not get more attention from the 4-letter network. Unless there are late broadcasting adjustments, it’s moar SECN+ streaming (ESPN+).
WEATHER
Tuscaloosa should be beautiful with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s on all three days.
ARKANSAS (21-2, 2-1 SEC)
The Razorbacks are a dangerous opponent. They led off the season with a 17-1, 5 inning run rule win over #12 Virginia at a neutral site in South Carolina. The next day, they lost to that same Cavaliers team 2-4. From there, the Hogs then went on a 17-game win streak until this past weekend when they lost the opening game against Georgia. Of note, they run ruled Clemson 12-0, took three games from Northwestern, and won the other two games against UGA. Of their 21 victories, 14 were of the run rule variety.
THROW THE BALL
Left-hander Robyn Herron (9-1, 1.79 ERA) is the ace of the staff. She was on the losing end of the SEC opener against Georgia when she was rocked for 6 runs in the first 2.1 innings of play. The Bulldogs tagged her for 5 runs in the 3rd inning, proving she can susceptible to giving up a big inning. However, she rebounded on Sunday with a 3-hit 7 inning shutout of the Dawgs. The senior also shutout Clemson on a one-hitter over 5 innings. Herron finished last season 18-7 and was named second-team All-American.
Sophomore Payton Burnham (5-1, 1.91) and freshman Saylor Timmerman (3-0, 1.96) are next in line, followed by soph Cam Harrison (3-0, 3.00) who was roughed up by UGA in a 7-6 win. None of these three underclassmen have faced Alabama, much less travel to Tuscaloosa.
HIT THE BALL
The good news for Arky opponents is that the 2025 NCAA Softball Player of the Year Bri Ellis has graduated and moved onto other avenues. The bad news is Cal transfer Tianna Bell is on a tear. The Arky first baseman has 9 homers and 29 RBI to go with a .471 batting average. Ella McDowell has 7 round-trippers and 34 runs knocked in. Leadoff hitter Reagan Johnson has scored 29 runs and is 10 for 10 in stolen bases.
As a team, the Razorbacks are top 10 in the nation in home runs and scoring.
CATCH THE BALL
Arkansas is the number one team in the nation in fielding percentage (.992). They have committed only 5 errors on the season.
TEN CENT ANALYSIS
To date, the Razorbacks are the toughest foe that the Crimson Tide will face in 2026. Being a lefty – and a good one at that – Robyn Herron brings an unfamiliar challenge for the Crimson Tide. It is unclear how many left-handers this Tide team has faced this season, if any at all. Arky has a prolific offense that hits dingers and scores lotsa runs. There is a good chance Bama suffers their first defeat of the season this weekend – and there is no shame in that. Two or more losses does not seem likely though. What do you think? Let me have it in Comments.
