Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy addresses transfer portal exits following 2022 collapse

Alabama softball has gone through a heartbreaking period, but coach Patrick Murphy is still in good spirits looking ahead to next season.

To illustrate, a rough month of May included a loss in the SEC Tournament, being eliminated from their first NCAA regional since 2004 and an exodus of athletes from the program. After the Crimson Tide fell to Stanford, six Alabama players left the program before the dirt was off their cleats.

Meanwhile, Murphy has been careful in replenishing his team, looking towards the transfer portal himself for help. The Crimson Tide have added three transfers since the end of the season, and more could be on the way.

Still, it stings for the Alabama coach to lose athletes he’s built a relationship with over their time in Tuscaloosa.

“Yeah, obviously it was because I’m in it for the relationships and it’s definitely heartbreaking as a person, No. 1,” Murphy said, per AL.com. “We want them to be happy, wherever they go and we’re going to reload and get after it again.”

Six transfers may seem like a lot, but Murphy added that a conversation with Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats put his fears to rest.

“I had a long talk with Nate Oats,” Murphy said. “Shoot, I think he lost five this year and I think it’s going to every sport. It’s not just softball. Unfortunately, it hit us this year.”

Unfortunately for Alabama, two of the aforementioned transfers are staying nearby, as Dallis Goodnight (Georgia) and Jenna Lord (Ole Miss) are staying in the SEC. However, Murphy does have some firepower returning, as ace pitcher Montana Fouts will return to the mound for the Crimson Tide next season.

However, Alabama will be in need of a No. 2 pitcher, as the Robin to Fouts’ Batman — Lexi Kilfoyl — transferred to Oklahoma State this offseason. Her stats were looking fantastic before an injury ended her season, as her 13 starts were second only to Fouts’ 26.

Change is inevitable in college athletics, but Alabama softball will look much different in 2022. Nevertheless, it may not be the worst thing in the world after their disastrous ending to the season, and Patrick Murphy is taking it all in stride.