Patrick Murphy reveals key to Alabama having success at Women's College World Series

Alabama is set to begin its run at the Women’s College World Series on Thursday afternoon, taking on SEC foe Tennessee in the opening game in Oklahoma City.

Coach Patrick Murphy has been here before, and he offered some insight into the challenges winning at the WCWS.

“I think with every team there the margin of error is like tiny,” Murphy said. “Everybody’s good. The hardest part is getting there. The nerves and all those things.”

So far Alabama hasn’t shown a ton of nerves in the postseason.

The Crimson Tide won the Tuscaloosa Regional even after falling to Middle Tennessee, a loss that forced Alabama to win in a winner-take-all elimination game.

Alabama survived in similar fashion in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional the following weekend against Northwestern.

The Wildcats took the opener 3-1 on Friday night, forcing the Crimson Tide to win two straight games to merit advancing to the Women’s College World Series. The Tide did it, and the situation provided a nice learning opportunity for one of Murphy’s coaches.

“I was talking to one of my assistants, Ryan Iamurri, and before the Saturday night Northwestern game and she was like, ‘Why am I so nervous?'” Murphy relayed. “And I said, ‘because this is the hard part.’ Getting there is fun. Once you get there I feel like you just play and you just let it all hang out.”

Alabama will have its work cut out for it against Tennessee. The Volunteers won three of the four meetings this season, taking the regular-season series two games to one and then a meeting in the SEC Tournament, as well.

In addition, Alabama pitcher Montana Fouts will be attempting to play through an injury that has limited her in recent weeks.

But Murphy will stick to his plan in Oklahoma City, trying to keep his cool.

“To me the team that usually wins it is the team that is the most relaxed,” Murphy said. “I’ve screwed up my part before because I think the team takes on my personality, and if I’m like this they will be too. So you might see a little more loosey goosey from me and just enjoy every single moment because we’re never guaranteed another one.”

Alabama and Tennessee began the opening game of the Women’s College World Series at noon ET on Thursday, with a broadcast on ESPN.