Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy talks about the Crimson Tide's wins over St. Thomas and Virginia.
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00:00 What kind of start has Abby Dukes been off to this year at the plate?
00:05 She's been awesome.
00:06 You know, her role model in sports is Kobe Bryant,
00:10 and she brings that mentality that is unbelievable.
00:14 And I think you're really starting to see some confidence brewing in her,
00:18 and that's what we need.
00:19 You know, if you're going to be the three-spotted Alabama,
00:22 you've got to be the most competitive, confident,
00:25 and consistent hitter on the team, and so far she has been.
00:28 Was there any hesitation in sending Callie on that ball at the wall?
00:31 No.
00:32 No, it was a weird bounce, and then it hit it hard.
00:35 And when I first looked up, there wasn't anybody near it,
00:39 and she was about halfway to third, I think, and I was like, what the heck.
00:44 They're going to have to make a great play, perfect throw.
00:46 She's going to have to tag her, you know, and then you've got the umpire involved.
00:49 So it was worth the risk.
00:52 She's fast.
00:53 She's a green light girl.
00:54 Coach, I don't know if you saw Riley's home run.
00:56 She gave it a little bit of a pinch up there at the plate.
00:59 I didn't get to see it, darn it.
01:01 I've got to go back and watch that because I heard about it,
01:03 but no, I didn't get to see it.
01:05 You know, she's been doing that every day in practice for six months,
01:09 and really cool for her to get her first one at home.
01:13 And then I think that inning is where when Callie got her inside the park too.
01:18 So one of the things we always say is you need to follow the home run
01:21 because if it's a solo home run especially,
01:24 the next person needs to get on to kind of like really,
01:27 really put a dent in the pitcher's mentality.
01:30 And I don't remember who got on and then Callie hits hers.
01:34 So I love that inning.
01:37 What about the job that you got from Bieber?
01:40 Well, Bieber was really good for six innings,
01:42 and then she's got to shut it down in the seventh.
01:44 You know, she gave up two little singles in six innings
01:47 and then too much traffic in the seventh.
01:49 But Jayla Torrence in the first game was unreal.
01:53 That might have been as good as regionals last year
01:55 because I think she struck out nine in like three and a third or three and two thirds.
01:59 And she was just filling the strike zone.
02:03 That was impressive to watch because we're trying to find combinations
02:07 that work well together, and her and Ailey,
02:10 that was a nasty combination between the two.
02:14 Lauren said she hasn't played right field in like four years.
02:17 Is that an example of what you said before the season?
02:19 If you're going to put the best hitters, you're going to find a spot for them?
02:21 Exactly, and that was tonight, exactly.
02:24 And she has played a little bit outfield, but she's such a good athlete,
02:29 so I wasn't worried.
02:32 You know, we do a lineup card instead of a game ball or the hard hat like Coach Oates does.
02:38 So whoever does the best offensively gets that game lineup card.
02:43 And it hasn't happened in a long time, but she got both tonight, and kudos to her.
02:49 How good was it to see her get her first Alabama home run?
02:51 That was awesome, too.
02:53 Just to see anybody but Riley and her on the same night was really cool.
02:59 How close are Kristen and Salty to getting back?
03:03 Salty, she's good.
03:06 We could see her tomorrow.
03:08 And Kristen practiced.
03:12 It was close, but still had a little bit of pain in her knee.
03:18 But she batted, played defense, so she's close.
03:23 I would say next weekend for sure.
03:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]