Maddie Morgan, Abby Doerr To Play For Alabama Softball This Week

Team 24 Will Feature Two Players Not Available Week One

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy met the media Tuesday at the Crimson Tide's softball complex and said that junior third baseman Maddie Morgan (and freshman catcher Abby Doerr are both expected to see action this weekend at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational. Morgan is returning from a suspension and Doerr was cleared Monday as an early enrollee.

On Morgan's suspension, Murphy said, "She just didn't meet a standard that we had set for the fall... and the rule is you don't get to play the first weekend, but she'll be with us this weekend."

Though Murphy didn't specify, sources say the suspension was related to academics.

As for Doerr, Murphy is excited to have her available but didn't think it would take this long. "It was due to her high school, our compliance, the NCAA and Abby herself of getting everything ready and everything certified.

"We asked her way back in March on an unofficial: I said, 'There might be an opportunity and we'll take you either way.' Then in the fall when she got home from an official visit, I think the mom and the dad said, 'I think we have an opportunity to help them.'

"[Doerr] went to work and got it done. She's going to be a heck of a player. Catcher, first base. Throws right and hits left. She can hack and doesn't get cheated."

Murphy said the 1-3 start where his team blew late leads twice was due to "probably a couple of innings that were just not good. Little things: Texas Leaguers, walks... then a grand slam. It happened in a hurry, and unfortunately it happened in one weekend.

"You look back on it and we make one or two plays in either of those games , we win. We make one or two better pitches, we probably win."

Murphy said the team plans to learn from the tough weekend. "We've said for years and years, 'Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset' and 'We'd rather be gritty than pretty.'  This is an opportunity now to show it."

That opportunity starts Thursday against Liberty at 8:30 a.m. CT and continues that night against top-ranked Washington. Those games are both in Clearwather, Fla. as are the other three: Friday against USF at 9:30 a.m. and against No. 2/3 UCLA  on ESPNU at 3 p.m.

Saturday Alabama takes on no. 16/16 Oklahoma State on the SEC Network at 9:30 a.m. CT.