Softball Announces 2009 Schedule
10/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 7, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama head softball coach Patrick Murphy announced his 2009 schedule today. The Crimson Tide will play a total of 56 regular season games, including 26 at the friendly confines of the Alabama Softball Complex.
Five tournaments and 28 Southeastern Conference games highlight the schedule. The schedule will challenge the Tide as 21 teams qualified for at least a NCAA regional while three of the teams made the Women's College World Series last season.
"When you believe you have good players you want to play the toughest schedule," Coach Murphy said. "I really think with the people we have back that they need to see the best competition. That is why we are going to Palm Springs and the Leadoff Classic because I feel those are the two best tournaments in the country."
The two tournaments will highlight the schedule in February. Alabama will head to the Palm Springs Classic for five games on Feb. 19-22. Showcasing their talents in the desert will be BYU, Oregon, UCLA, Oklahoma and Hawaii. The next weekend at the Leadoff Classic the Tide will face Michigan, Massachusetts, Virginia Tech, Houston and Southern Illinois. Of the 10 opponents, nine made postseason appearances a year ago.
"Especially in these two tournaments there is going to be big crowds and excellent pitching," Murphy said. "We may be seeing one of the best pitching staffs in Michigan and one of the best pitchers from UMass in Brandice Balschmiter. I think it will be really good for us to play these great teams."
The Crimson Tide will begin its 2009 slate at the South Alabama Kickoff Classic on Feb. 7-8 and then host the Bama Bash on Feb. 13-15. The Bash will feature Notre Dame, East Carolina and Wisconsin. Notre Dame and East Carolina both made regional appearances a year ago.
After a midweek game against UAB, Alabama will then host it final tournament of the season with the Easton Classic. Baylor, Georgia and Washington will make the trek to Tuscaloosa for four games. Washington and Georgia were postseason participants as well.
After midweek games against UAB and Mississippi Valley State, the Crimson Tide will open SEC play at home against Mississippi State on March 14 with a twin-bill. Alabama will host a three-game set against Georgia on April 4-5, Kentucky in a doubleheader on April 14, Arkansas for three games on April 18-19 and then round out its conference home slate against rival Auburn on April 25-26.
The Tide will face a tough road away from Tuscaloosa during SEC play with contests against LSU, Florida and Tennessee. The Tide will face the Tigers in a doubleheader on March 18 and then play Florida in a three-game set 10 days later in Gainesville. The final series of the regular season will be in Knoxville, Tenn. on May 2-3.
"Obviously we would much rather play LSU, Tennessee and Florida at home but all three will present good environments," Murphy explained. "Two years ago in Tennessee it came down to that series and you never know, it may come down to that again this year."
Alabama will once again host the Fall Brawl Tournaments. The Crimson Tide will welcome a total of five teams to Tuscaloosa for three days of tournament play. The Tide will first take to the field on Sunday, Oct. 19 for games against Shelton State and South Alabama. On Saturday Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26 Alabama will play Chattanooga State, Middle Tennessee State and Wallace State.
