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

Friday, May 17

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

3:30 p.m. CT

Alabama

34-17

USC Upstate

30-22

USC Upstate

Alabama

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

5/17/2024 7:19:00 PM | Softball

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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."

Highlights

Alabama is now 69-12 all-time in NCAA Regional play, winning its opening game on Regional weekend every year since 2003
The win was the 1,300th of Patrick Murphy's career, which includes 1,272 at Alabama (1999-pres.) and 28 as the interim head coach at Northwest Missouri State (1995)
Friday marked the Crimson Tide's 15th shutout victory of the season and its third when tied after 5.0 innings
Jenna Johnson and Bailey Dowling each had two hits, their ninth and seventh multi-hit performances of the season, respectively
The game-ending double play was Alabama's 20th of the year, marking the first time since 2009 the team has turned 20 or more in a season

Scoring Summary

B6 | Bailey Dowling pulled a two-out RBI single through the left side (1-0, 2 Out)

Up Next: NCAA Regionals (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Saturday, May 18 vs. Southeastern – 10:30 a.m. CT – ESPN+

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