Patrick Murphy Earns His 1,000th Win at Alabama, Alexis Osorio Throws Her Seventh No-Hitter

Alabama softball head coach Patrick Murphy earned his 1,000th win at Alabama Friday night in emphatic fashion, as senior 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.

“I think it’s a product of great athletes, great assistant coaches and great staff,” Murphy said on his career milestone. “We have had great young ladies here for 22 years and they do exactly what they are asked to do.

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, only trailing Kelsi Dunne (2008-11) with 10. 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. Sophomore Gabby Callaway led the offense with a 2-for-2 day at the plate, driving in three runs and scoring once. Junior Merris Schroder also notched a pair of hits in the win and sophomore Elissa Brown scored twice batting in the nine-hole.

The Tide fell behind early in the nightcap against Fordham (5-11) but rallied to tie it in the second inning and then take the lead in the third on a solo home run by junior Reagan Dykes. Senior Sydney Booker and freshman Maddie Morgan combined for four hits, batting back-to-back in the middle of the order, with Morgan driving in two of Alabama’s four runs. Junior Courtney Gettins (6-1) threw 4.1 innings for the win while freshman Madison Preston struck out five over 2.2 relief innings to earn her first career save.

GAME ONE: ALABAMA 5, BOSTON COLLEGE 0

Both teams were hitless through the first two innings and, after a 1-2-3 top of the third for Boston College, Alabama put two on base in the bottom-half courtesy of a fielding error and a walk. Callaway made the first hit of the day a big one, blasting a three-run home run to right field to give Alabama the 3-0 lead.

Schroder led off the bottom of the fourth with a single before moving up 60 feet on a stolen base and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. Brown brought her home with an infield RBI single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Freshman Kaylee Tow followed with another roller up the middle that was stopped by the diving Boston College shortstop, allowing Brown enough time to round third and score to swell the lead to 5-0.

That was all the cushion Osorio would need, as she allowed just one more baserunner down the stretch to complete the no-hitter.

GAME TWO: ALABAMA 4, FORDHAM 3

Fordham would score the first two runs of the day in the first inning on a throwing error and RBI single to take the early 2-0 lead. Alabama would tie it up in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single from Morgan and an RBI double from freshman Kaylee Tow.

Dykes gave the Tide the 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the third, leading off the inning with a solo home run to straightaway center. With two outs in the inning and a runner at second, Morgan tallied her second RBI of the day with a double in the left-field gap to make it 4-2.

Fordham took advantage of a one-out fielding error in the top of the fourth, drawing within one on an RBI groundout to score the unearned run with the score now 4-3. Alabama couldn’t add to its lead in the remaining innings, still leading by one heading to the top of the seventh. The Rams would load the bases with one away, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position before Preston notched her fifth strikeout in relief and a groundout to sophomore Claire Jenkins ended it as the Tide held on for the one-run win.

Alabama continues play at the Easton Crimson Classic Saturday, facing Boston College (11 a.m. CT) and Fordham (1 p.m. CT).

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