Patrick Murphy offers injury update on Larissa Preuitt

Patrick Murphy said that keeping Larissa Preuitt in Alabama‘s 4-1 loss against UCLA on Thursday was “just not worth trying,” after she pulled up and favored her hamstring while running to first base in the opening inning.

After the game, Murphy explained what happened to Preuitt, who was replaced with Lauren Johnson for the rest of the game. Johnson went 1 for 2 at the plate.

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“Right before the game, our athletic trainer said Larissa said her hamstring is pulling a little bit,” Murphy said postgame. “She gets to hit, I watched her run down, it was not good. That’s why we ran over. She, of course, wanted to stay in. I think if she would have stayed in, it would have been worse. That was the only reason why she got replaced.

“LoJo got a hit the next time. If she stayed in, she would have made it worse. Hopefully she’s got a day for a little treatment, and we’ll see how it is tomorrow.”

The extent of Preuitt’s injury has not been disclosed as of this report, and whether she can participate in the Crimson Tide’s elimination matchup against Duke on Friday night remains to be seen.

Alabama pitcher Kayla Beaver helped keep the Crimson Tide in the game, allowing only one run through 5 innings pitched. However, as for what ultimately allowed UCLA to pull away from the Crimson Tide during Thursday’s opening-round matchup — it was a three-run home run by Bruins slugger Jordan Woolery in the sixth inning.

Elsewhere in the WCWS bracket, the Oklahoma Sooners, who are looking to four-peat as national champions in 2024, run-ruled the Blue Devils 9-1 in six innings, setting up a win-or-go-home scenario fort both squads. The next loss for either team in the tournament will end their run in the 2024 Women’s College World Series.

Still, the Crimson Tide are allowed one more opportunity to right their wrongs on Thursday, and Patrick Murphy is sure his team will make the most of it.

“Like I said the other day, there’s no such thing as a bad day at the College World Series,” Murphy said. “It was a well-played game. They had an opportunity to win it and they did it. One good swing.”

First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Blue Devils is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN2.