Alabama
No. 10-Ranked Alabama Softball Travels to Jacksonville State Wednesday, Hosts T-Mobile Crimson Classic this Weekend – University of Alabama Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Tenth-ranked ranked Alabama (16-0) will play six games over four days this week, starting with a Wednesday road trip to Jacksonville State before returning to Rhoads Stadium to host the T-Mobile Crimson Classic starting Thursday night against Northern Iowa and continuing Friday and Saturday against South Alabama and No. 19 Arizona.
This Week
- Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Jacksonville State – Jacksonville, Ala. – 5 p.m. CT
- Thursday, Feb. 29 vs. Northern Iowa – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 6 p.m. CT
- Friday, March 1 vs. South Alabama – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 4 p.m. CT
- Friday, March 1 vs. No. 19/21 Arizona – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 6:30 p.m. CT
- Saturday, March 2 vs. South Alabama – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 1 p.m. CT
- Saturday, March 2 vs. No. 19/21 Arizona – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 3:30 p.m. CT
- Streaming: ESPN+ (Wednesday), SEC Nework+ (Thursday-Saturday)
- Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com
Scouting Alabama
- Alabama hits the road for a Wednesday night road game at Jacksonville State before returning home to host the T-Mobile Crimson Classic as the Crimson Tide welcomes Northern Iowa, South Alabama and No. 19/21 Arizona to Rhoads Stadium
- The Crimson Tide is 16-0 heading into its fourth week of play, coming off a 5-0 slate at last weekend’s Green & Gold Classic in Birmingham
- For her performance last week, fifth-year senior outfielder Jenna Johnson was named the SEC Softball Co-Player of the Week
- Alabama has scored first in 14 of its 16 wins, doing so nine times in the first inning
- The Tide is ranked as high as No. 10 in this week’s national polls
- Alabama returns 15 letterwinners from last year’s Women’s College World Series squad, including 2023 All-SEC honoree Larissa Preuitt, 2023 NFCA All-Region Kenleigh Cahalan, 2023 All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Team Jenna Johnson and 2022 All-SEC and All-Region Bailey Dowling
- Seven newcomers are on the Tide roster in 2024, including freshmen Lauren Johnson (Franklin, Tenn.) and Jocelyn Briski (Phoenix, Ariz.) and transfers Kayla Beaver (Central Arkansas), Kendal Clark (DMACC), Alea Johnson (LSU), Kinley Pate (Samford) and Riley Valentine (Texas A&M)
All-Time vs. the Opponents
- Overall vs. Jacksonville State: 17-0
- In Tuscaloosa: 11-0 | In Jacksonville: 2-0 | At Neutral Sites: 4-0
- Current Streak: Alabama +17
- Last Meeting: March 2, 2016 – W, 10-3 – Jacksonville, Ala.
- Overall vs. Northern Iowa: 6-0
- In Tuscaloosa: 3-0 | In Cedar Falls: 1-0 | At Neutral Sites: 2-0
- Current Streak: Alabama +6
- Last Meeting: March 6, 2021 – W, 8-0 (5) – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Overall vs. South Alabama: 15-1
- In Tuscaloosa: 9-1 | In Mobile: 3-0 | At Neutral Sites: 3-0
- Current Streak: South Alabama +1
- Last Meeting: March 7, 2021 – L, 0-1 – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Overall vs. Arizona: 8-14
- In Tuscaloosa: 2-3 | In Tucson: 2-5 | At Neutral Sites: 4-6
- Current Streak: Alabama +2
- Last Meeting: Feb. 12, 2022 – W, 11-0 (5) – Tucson, Ariz.
- Last Meeting in Tuscaloosa: Feb. 29, 2020 – L, 5-6
Last Time Out: Green & Gold Classic
- Alabama went 5-0 at last weekend’s Green & Gold Classic in Birmingham, including two run-rule wins over tournament host UAB along with victories over Western Carolina, Bradley and North Alabama
- The Crimson Tide outscored its opponents 45-5 and out-hit its competition 52-16
- Alabama pitchers allowed just five runs, four earned, over 31.0 innings pitched with 42 strikeouts
- Jenna Johnson led the offense, hitting 8-for-11 (.727) with eight runs scored and six RBIs
- Marlie Giles led the team with three home runs, including two in the weekend finale against the Blazers, as part of a 7-for-10 weekend at the plate
- Abby Duchscherer drove in a team-leading eight RBIs and was second on the team with seven hits
- The Tide defense turned three double plays in Friday’s win over UAB, its most in a game since setting Alabama’s single-game record with five against Texas on May 17, 2009
Jenna Johnson Named SEC Co-Player of the Week
- Jenna Johnson led the Crimson Tide with eight hits and nine runs scored over its six games last week, batting 8-for-13 (.615) with six RBIs
- She scored at least one run in the five games in which she made a plate appearance and reached base safely in those five, extending her current team-leading reached base streak to 12 games
- She had a career-high four hits in Saturday’s win over North Alabama, scoring twice and driving in two runs, and crossed the plate three times in Sunday’s finale over UAB, which is a new career high
- The award is the first of Johnson’s career and the second for Alabama this season, with her younger sister Lauren Johnson earning Co-Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 12
- Overall, Alabama has taken home 52 SEC Player of the Week awards in program history, with Bailey Hemphill as the last to do so on April 6, 2021
Alabama in the SEC Rankings (Top 5)
Team
- Batters Struck Out – 1st – 128
- Opposing Batting Avg. – 2nd – .155
- Hits – 2nd – 133
- Hits Allowed – 2nd – 54
- ERA – 2nd – 0.61
- Runs Allowed – 2nd – 16
- Earned Runs Allowed – 2nd – 9
- Runs Batted In – 3rd – 104
- Walks – 3rd – 61
- Runs Scored – T3rd – 108
- Home Runs – 4th – 17
- On Base Pct. – 4th – .440
- Stolen Bases – 4th – 24
- Slugging Pct. – 5th – .528
Individual
Sweet Home Alabama
- Alabama sports a 716-135 (.841) all-time record at home, including a 680-119 (.851) mark under Head Coach Patrick Murphy (1999-pres.) and a 661-115 (.852) record at Rhoads Stadium, the Tide’s home field since 2000
- Since Rhoads Stadium opened in 2000, Alabama has won at least 25 home games in 20 of its 24 previous years there
Alabama Softball Scheduled for 16 TV Games
- The Crimson Tide is slated to appear 16 times on the ESPN family of networks throughout the 2024 regular season
- Over half of the Crimson Tide’s league slate will be nationally televised, including the entirety of the Texas A&M (April 13-15) and Auburn (May 2-4) series
- A non-conference matchup on the road at Florida State on Wednesday, March 13 will also be aired on the ACC Network
- All home games and every SEC road game will also be streamed online through the SEC Network Plus digital platform, available at WatchESPN.com or on the ESPN app
- Additionally, the entirety of the 2024 SEC Softball Tournament will also be aired live on the ESPN family of networks
Alabama 2024 TV Schedule
- Sunday, March 10 vs. Florida – SEC Network
- Monday, March 11 vs. Florida – SEC Network
- Wednesday, March 13 at Florida State – ACC Network
- Saturday, March 16 at Georgia – SEC Network
- Sunday, March 17 at Georgia – SEC Network
- Saturday, April 6 vs. Ole Miss – SEC Network
- Saturday, April 13 vs. Texas A&M – ESPN2
- Sunday, April 14 vs. Texas A&M – ESPN2
- Monday, April 15 vs. Texas A&M – SEC Network
- Saturday, April 20 at Arkansas – SEC Network
- Sunday, April 21 at Arkansas – ESPNU
- Saturday, April 27 vs. Tennessee – ESPNU
- Sunday, April 28 vs. Tennessee – ESPNU
- Thursday, May 2 at Auburn – ESPNU
- Friday, May 3 at Auburn – SEC Network
- Saturday, May 4 at Auburn – SEC Network
Up Next: vs. #13/15 Florida (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Saturday, March 9 – 2 p.m. CT
- Sunday, March 10 – 5 p.m. CT – SEC Network
- Monday, March 11 – 6 p.m. CT – SEC Network
Drought conditions lead to elevated wildfire danger this spring
Multiple parts of the country, including Florida and the Four Corners region, are at risk of dangerous wildfires this spring.
Accuweather
Alabama faces a summer of intense heat, high humidity, and occasional strong storms, with El Niño influencing shifts across the Southeast weather pattern.
While conditions will vary across the state, AccuWeather forecasters expect heat to dominate statewide. At the same time, storm and flooding risks will be concentrated in specific parts of Alabama as the season progresses.
Here’s what Alabama residents can expect for summer 2026.
Heat and Humidity to dominate Alabama summer 2026
Heat is expected to be the defining feature of the season, with much of Alabama likely to see near- or above-normal temperatures.
Even when highs are typical for late June or July, humidity will push “feels-like” temperatures significantly higher, especially in central and southern Alabama.
That means:
- More frequent 90-degree days.
- Oppressive humidity across the state.
- Warm overnight lows that offer little relief.
As a result, energy demand is also expected to rise as residents rely heavily on air conditioning during extended hot stretches.
Alabama summer storms 2026
Unlike some summers with almost daily thunderstorms, 2026 is expected to feature more distinct periods of storm activity, rather than storms developing continuously throughout the season. These storm-active windows will vary by region in the state.
Storm timing breaks down like this:
- Upper to central Alabama: Peak thunderstorm activity in June and July.
- Southern Alabama: July into August becomes the more active window.
Derecho Risk focused in northern Alabama
One of the more significant severe weather concerns this summer is the potential for derecho events across northern Alabama.
AccuWeather forecasters are highlighting a moderate risk zone in the upper part of the state, where fast-moving lines of thunderstorms could organize during peak summer instability.
These systems are rare but capable of producing widespread damage when they form.
Will there be drought relief in Alabama?
Flooding risks this summer are not widespread, but they are highly localized in two areas that will need close attention during heavy events.
The main flood-prone zones are the upper western and lower eastern corners of the state. Elsewhere, flooding risk stays within the norm for summer storms.
Bottom line: Don’t expect too much relief this summer.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.
Alabama has a quick turnaround to flush its first SEC series loss of the season at Tennessee as the No. 3 Crimson Tide prepares to face No. 21 South Carolina in the regular-season finale at Rhoads Stadium for a three-game series beginning on Thursday.
All three games between Alabama and South Carolina will be streaming only on SEC Network+.
Last year, the Gamecocks took two of three games from the Tide in the regular season series in Columbia under first year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, and then beat Alabama in the SEC tournament.
This year, Alabama (44-6, 16-5 SEC) is still fighting for a chance at the regular season conference title two games behind Oklahoma with three games to go. At a minimum, the Tide wants to secure a double-bye in the SEC tournament and as high a seed in the NCAA tournament as possible.
“We need to do our job this year, at home especially, going into the SEC tournament and possible seedings for the NCAA,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “This is a big weekend for both of us. I know she’d probably say the same thing. But this is huge for us.”
The Gamecocks are coming off back-to-back conference series wins over Missouri and Texas A&M while Alabama is coming in off its first conference series loss. Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s series.
How to watch: Alabama vs. South Carolina
Who: No. 21 South Carolina (30-22, 7-14 SEC) at No. 3 Alabama (44-6, 16-5 SEC)
When: Thursday, April 30 – 6 p.m. CT
Friday, May 1 – 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 2- 1 p.m. CT
Where: Rhoads Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network on Catfish 100.1 FM in Tuscaloosa (or online) with Tom Canterbury on the call.
Series history: Alabama leads, 33-10
In Tuscaloosa: 19-2 | In Columbia: 14-7 | At Neutral Sites: 0-1
Last meeting: South Carolina eliminated Alabama from the SEC tournament in Athens, Georgia last season with a 6-2 victory over the Crimson Tide. Alabama scored two runs in the first inning, including a leadoff home run by Audrey Vandagriff, before the Gamecocks reeled off six unanswered.
Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide lost to Tennessee, 4-1, in the series finale on Monday. Alabama was on the verge of being shut out for the second straight game before a pinch hit home run by Mari Hubbard in the seventh inning.
Last time out, South Carolina: The Gamecocks run ruled South Carolina State, 9-1, in six innings on Tuesday night for their final non-conference game in the regular season.
Batting average: Brooke Wells- .419
RBIs: Brooke Wells- 55
Home runs: Brooke Wells- 56
ERA: Jocelyn Briski- 1.50
Wins: Jocelyn Briski- 19
Strikeouts: Jocelyn Briski- 153
Batting average: Karley Shelton- .358
RBIs: Tori Ensley- 45
Home runs: Tori Ensley- 113
ERA: Jori Heard- 1.77
Wins: Jori Heard- 11
Strikeouts: Jori Heard- 113
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – After more than four years at the helm of the Alabama Department of Corrections, Commissioner John Hamm is officially retiring, Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday.
Hamm, who served in law enforcement for more than 35 years, came to the post in January 2022. During his tenure, state officials point to a range of developments within the corrections system, including progress on the construction of two new men’s prisons, increased recruitment and retention of corrections officers, and enforcement of stricter conduct policies for staff and inmates.
“It has been the honor of my serve to serve in Governor Ivey’s Administration, and I thank her for giving me that opportunity and empowering me to lead the Department of Corrections forward,” Hamm said. “Governor Ivey’s unwavering support for the Department has been outstanding. When I started at Corrections in 2022, Governor Ivey gave me the charge of making the Department better and with her support, as well as the support of her staff and the hardworking men and women of ADOC, we have accomplished that.”
In a statement, Ivey credited Hamm with helping advance improvements within the department, while noting that ongoing efforts remain. She also announced her appointment of corrections and law enforcement veteran Greg Lovelace as Hamm’s replacement.
She said Lovelace’s experience in corrections and law enforcement positions him to continue that work through the remainder of her term.
Lovelace brings more than 3 decades of corrections experience to the position. During his tenure within the Department of Corrections, he oversaw maintenance and construction projects while management all prisons within the system.
The Governor called him a “true public servant” who is “once again answering the call to lend his leadership to the state.”
Lovelace will begin his tenure on May 1.
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