5 Things You May Have Missed in College Softball Friday
1,000 Career Wins for Alabama’s Patrick Murphy
Alabama softball head coach Patrick Murphy earned his 1,000th win at Alabama Friday night. Win number 1,000 came as senior pitcher Alexis Osorio threw a no-hitter in the 5-0 win against Boston College before the Crimson Tide rounded out the day with a 4-3 win over Fordham. A number of SEC coaches, including Murphy, have 1,000 wins between multiple coaching stops but Murphy is the first to earn 1,000 entirely at an SEC program. The no-hitter was the 35th in Alabama (13-5) history and the seventh for Osorio (4-3). Her seven no-hitters, four solo and three combined, are the second-most for any Tide pitcher. She finished the win over Boston College (7-11) with 11 strikeouts, tying a season high, and just two baserunners allowed via a walk and hit-by-pitch. Alabama continues play at the Easton Crimson Classic Saturday, facing Boston College at 11 a.m. CT and Fordham 1 p.m. CT.
Barnhill No-Hits Kentucky in SEC Opener
Kelly Barnhill hurled her third complete-game no-hitter of the season in a 6-0 victory over No. 23 Kentucky Friday evening at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Barnhill (10-0) now has three complete-game no-hitters, a combined no-hitter and a perfect game through 12 starts. The only blemish in the contest for the Marietta, Ga. native was a walk to lead off the second inning by Jenny Schaper. Florida’s (20-1) patience at the plate showed in the first inning as the team drew four walks against Kentucky (15-4) starter Erin Rethlake (4-3). The Gators and the Wildcats will face off again Saturday at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Husker Coaching Milestone
The Nebraska softball team (13-7) won its second game of the day on Friday, after downing the Northern Iowa Panthers (13-8) by a score of 6-3 in its second game of the Jayhawk Invitational. The victory also marked a milestone for Head Coach Rhonda Revelle, as she won her 950th game as the head coach at Nebraska. Coach Revelle is now the winningest coach in the history of Nebraska Athletics. The Huskers continue the Jayhawk Invitational on Saturday as they take on Tulsa (11:30 a.m.) and Kansas (2 p.m.).
Gregg’s Grand Slam Edges Tennessee Past Missouri
Lady Vol Senior Meghan Gregg hit a two-out Grand Slam in the sixth inning to lead No. 4/4 Tennessee to a 7-4 win over Missouri on Friday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. With the victory, Tennessee moves to 22-1 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play. The Lady Vols jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning and capitalized on putting base runners on and moving them around the bases throughout the entire game. The Lady Vols and Tigers continue their series with game 2 on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Texas A&M Takes Down Ole Miss
Tori Vidales broke the Texas A&M career RBI record Friday evening at the Aggie Softball Complex as the No. 5 Texas A&M softball team defeated No. 23 Ole Miss, 8-6, in the conference opener. Vidales’ record-breaker came in the bottom of the fourth as the senior hit her sixth home run of the season. The three RBI gave her 191 for her career, passing Meagan May’s (2010-13) 189. In the circle, Trinity Harrington moved to 7-1 on the season after striking out four in 6.1 innings pitched. Ole Miss’ Kaitlin Lee (8-2) was saddled with the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings pitched. The Aggies return to action for game two against Ole Miss on Saturday at 2:30 PM at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Bonus:
FPN Series of the Week (Auburn vs. LSU)
LSU takes game one of the series in 14-innings on a Becca Schulte walk-off hit.
HERE IT IS! The game-winner from @Becca_Schulte to give the Tigers their first SEC victory of 2018! WHAT. A. GAME. #OnBoard pic.twitter.com/xDshAZKqnY
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) March 10, 2018
