Patrick Murphy expresses pride in Jaala Torrence after Alabama's must-win victory over Northwestern

Alabama’s Jaala Torrence came through in a big way during the Crimson Tide’s must-win showdown against the Northwestern Wildcats.

Torrence made skipper Patrick Murphy proud, as she allowed just one run over five innings of well-pitched softball. Afterwards, she handed it over to Crimson Tide ace Montana Fouts, who finished the game off and secured a victory for Alabama.

Afterwards, Murphy waxed poetic regarding Torrence’s performance, which he believes is a signal that she’s ready to take her game to the next level moving forward.

“Hopefully, we had three freshman, and I think four juniors in the lineup, and it was a young team tonight out there. Including her. She’s gotten opportunities at the end of the year, and we always say, ‘Be ready for your opportunity, take advantage of your opportunity,’ and she has. That’s why I’m so proud of her,” explained Murphy. “I told the TV crew, she could’ve folded her tent way back in March, and she didn’t.

“She kept working. She didn’t pout. She wasn’t Debbie the Downer. She kept working with Lance on little, tiny things, and now you’re seeing the results of that.”

Moreover, Torrence worked through trouble on numerous occasions, keeping Northwestern at bay, even when the Wildcats put runners on base. With Fouts moving on from the Crimson Tide whenever their run is over, Alabama is in good hands with Torrence moving forward, as she proved on Saturday.

Because of what Jaala Torrence accomplished on Saturday, Alabama’s ultimate goal of a national title is still alive. Time will tell if they reach their zenith, but the ride has been a memorable run throughout.

Patrick Murphy criticizes umpires in elimination game vs. Northwestern

Continuing, Alabama was fighting for its life at Rhoades Stadium against Northwestern in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional.

During the game, head coach Patrick Murphy spoke with the broadcast crew, and he took some time to criticize the home plate umpire. He was not happy with the strike zone Northwestern pitcher Danielle Williams was getting, discussing one call in particular in the fifth inning.

Overall, Murphy wanted to make sure his team is staying aggressive but only when pitches are coming through the zone.

“We got to stay in the strike zone,” Murphy said. “That was last pitch was not a strike. I don’t think it was, it didn’t look like it was from where I was. But we got to stay in the strike zone, not expand. We expanded way too much yesterday against her.”

Moreover, Williams is the star pitcher for Northwestern, but she didn’t start the game. She came in relief, but Alabama was still able to find victory over the Wildcats.