re: Bama Softball 39-19 (10-14) (2023-24)

Patrick Murphy Earns 1,300th Career Win in 1-0 Shutout to Open NCAA Regional Play

A sixth-inning RBI single gave the Crimson Tide a one-run win over USC Upstate

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head softball coach Patrick Murphy earned his 1,300th career win in a 1-0 shutout over USC Upstate to open NCAA Regional play Friday at Rhoads Stadium.

Murphy now has 1,272 wins at Alabama, a position he has held since 1999, along with 28 wins from his stint as interim head coach at Northwest Missouri State in 1995. After Friday's win, the Crimson Tide has now won its opening game in NCAA Regionals every year since 2003.

Alabama (34-17) and USC Upstate (30-22) were locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel until a sixth-inning single from Jenna Johnson and a stolen base set up Bailey Dowling for the go-ahead RBI, a two-out single through the left side. Jocelyn Briski (8-5) threw 6.1 hitless innings with Kayla Beaver securing the final two outs courtesy a 4-6-3 double play to earn her fourth save of the season.

Briski allowed just two baserunners across 6.1 innings pitched with a single and a walk in the freshman's postseason debut. Johnson and Dowling were both 2-for-3 on the day, their ninth and seventh multi-hit games of the season, respectively.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"To have two freshman [pitchers] in their first postseason starts put together performances like that was remarkable to see. Kudos to [Upstate pitcher Sierra Maness] and Jocelyn Briski. She has been doing a great job for us this year. In the postseason it's survive and advance. It doesn't matter if it's 1-0, 8-0 or 10-9 - you only need to score one more run than the other team. USC Upstate made a lot of plays as did our defense. Briski was awesome and Bailey Dowling came up with the key hit."