Tide senior has good memory

TUSCALOOSA | Jordan Praytor has a good memory.

The senior outfielder for the third-ranked University of Alabama softball team remembers the Crimson Tide’s 6-1 home loss to Missouri four years ago.

“We haven’t played them since I was a freshman and they came in here and took one from us,” she said. “I think it was our first home loss.

“They are not a team to be taken lightly.”

Alabama (54-6) will host the Tigers (45-17) in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional at the Alabama Softball Complex starting Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy respects the Big 12 Conference.

“They definitely have more postseason success than the SEC by far,” Murphy said. “They have three national championships. We don’t have any.

“There’s great athletes in that alley in the country from Texas up to Iowa, and we’ve recruited there. It’s a great conference for softball.”

Murphy is more familiar with Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine than he is with the Tigers. Earleywine left Georgia Tech two years ago to coach at his native state university.

“When he was at Georgia Tech we got to play them several times,” Murphy said. “They’re going to be very aggressive. They’re going to swing the bats. That’s what they did at Georgia Tech, and looking at the stats it looks like that’s hat they do.

“They have a bunch of home runs and a bunch of stolen bases.”

Murphy is happy with ticket sales going into the event. By late Thursday afternoon, sales of all-session passes were nearing 1,000.

“I’ve heard our ticket sales are way over last weekend (for the Tuscaloosa Regional),” he said. “It’s two really good teams from two great conferences. I’m really disappointed it’s not on TV because it could be an instant classic.”

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.