Alabama softball drops first SEC series: Observations from series vs. Florida

It was SEC opening weekend for Alabama softball as it welcomed Florida to Rhoads Stadium, with the Gators taking the first two games of the series and Alabama taking game three to avoid the sweep.

It marks the second-straight season that the Crimson Tide opened conference play at home and lost the series following 2023's conference-opener series loss vs. Arkansas. It was also the Gators first time back in Rhoads Stadium since May 15, 2021, where the Crimson Tide defeated them 4-0 to win the SEC Tournament, and the first time the two teams met since 2022.

The Gators won game one by a score of 2-0, picking up two runs in the top of the second inning with Alabama unable to get a run of its own on the board. Game two was arguably the most undisciplined game for the Crimson Tide this season, as they made six errors and allowed 10 hits in a 11-2 run-rule loss. Alabama bounced back and was able to get a 3-0 win on Monday night to avoid the series sweep.

Here are observations from Alabama softball's (20-3, 1-2 SEC) SEC series opening weekend vs. Florida:

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Alabama softball's six errors on Sunday

Alabama's six errors on Sunday were the most the Crimson Tide have committed in a game since April 4, 2002, vs. LSU.

Third baseman Bailey Dowling committed three of the six errors, with back-to-back fielding errors in the first inning and a throwing error in the third. The remaining half of Alabama's errors came in the top of the fifth inning where Florida added seven runs off of five hits. Second baseman Kali Heivilin was responsible for the remainder of the errors, with two of them being throwing errors and the other coming from a fielding error.

Pitching did not help Alabama's defensive cause either, as a couple wild pitches were thrown in the game allowing one run and runners to advance on base. Out of the 11 runs Florida scored in Sunday's win, five came unearned.

"We got in our heads. When you're struggling on defense, the ball always continues to find that one person. It's like a magnet. Unfortunately, that was just an ugly game," coach Patrick Murphy said following Sunday's game. "That kind of game happens across all sports and tonight was ours."

Slow start from the plate, picks up Monday night

In the series opener on Friday, Alabama got one hit: a Lauren Johnson single in the bottom of the fifth. On Sunday, the Crimson Tide managed three hits, two from Kristen White and another from Lauren Johnson.

Monday night saw Alabama get as many hits as it did in the first two games across the first two innings, as it went on to finish the game with eight hits for a series high. Marlie Giles led the Crimson Tide offense going 2-for-2 from the plate with an RBI and a double, while Kenleigh Cahalan went 2-for-3 from the plate. Bailey Dowling also added a solo home run to left center field in the fourth inning.

Getting deeper into conference play, Alabama will want to see more games like it did Monday night from the plate and less of what it saw Saturday and Sunday.

Pitching faces tough Florida lineup

Alabama's pitching staff entered the Florida series with the best ERA in the country (.59), while the Gators came in with the third-highest batting average in the country (.391), along with reigning SEC player of the year Skylar Wallace. Despite dropping the series, pitching continued to remain the most consistent piece for Alabama.

Kayla Beaver continued to shine in the circle for Alabama despite picking up her first loss on Saturday, where she struck out eight, walked three, gave up three hits and two unearned runs through seven innings pitched. On Monday, Beaver pitched nearly lights out, not allowing a Florida hit until the fourth inning. She finished the night striking out five, walking two and allowing five hits through seven innings pitched. Beaver also showed her ability to field the ball, coming up big in the circle on a few plays for the Crimson Tide.

On Sunday, Jaala Torrence got the nod in the circle, pitching two innings where she gave up four hits and three runs, one being earned. Freshman Jocelyn Briski made her first appearance for Alabama since February (bicep injury) coming in for Torrence and pitching 2⅓ innings, allowing six runs, five earned, off of four hits while striking out three and walking two. Alex Salter came in to pitch the final ⅔ inning on Sunday, where she gave up two runs off of two hits.

What's next for Alabama softball?

The Crimson Tide travel to Tallahassee, Florida where they will take on No. 14/16 Florida State in a non-conference game on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT. From there, they will jump back into conference play and travel to Athens, Georgia to take on the No. 6/7 ranked Bulldogs in a three-game series from March 15-17.

Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama softball: Crimson Tide drop SEC opening weekend series to Florida