Sean Cripple, LSU Athletics
Alabama Softball Adds SEC Pitcher from Transfer Portal
For the second time this offseason, Patrick Murphy and Alabama softball have gotten a pitcher from the transfer portal.
LSU freshman transfer Alea Johnson announced she would be transferring to join the Crimson Tide Tuesday. An Alabama native out of Fairhope, Johnson made 12 appearances for the Tigers last season with a 7-1 record and 1.41 ERA in an LSU staff that ran six pitchers deep.
"Sweet home Alabama," Johnson said in an Instagram post. "So excited to start this new journey!"
She will have three years of eligibility remaining. The pitcher recorded an SEC win against Mississippi State and picked up NCAA Tournament experience against Louisiana Lafayette. She also threw two hitless innings against No. 1 Oklahoma.
Johnson was highly-touted out of high school. She was the two-time 7A Pitcher of the Year at Fairhope with a combined 33-3 record and 405 strikeouts over her junior and senior seasons. She played travel ball with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, the same team as fellow Alabama players Kenleigh Cahalan, Larissa Preuitt and Marlie Giles.
In the first year of Alabama softball without Montana Fouts since 2018, the Crimson Tide and pitching coach Lance McMahon will have a deep staff to work with.
"We are very excited to welcome Alea to our Alabama softball family," Murphy said in a press release. "Our visit with her and her parents was terrific. With three senior pitchers this upcoming season, we really needed a sophomore in the circle as well. I believe she has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the many dominant pitchers in our program’s history.”
Alabama added veteran ace grad transfer Kayla Beaver from Central Arkansas shortly after the 2023 season ended. With freshman Jocelyn Briski coming in the fall alongside returners Lauren Esman, Alex Salter and Jaala Torrence the Crimson Tide will now have six pitchers on staff for the 2024 season.
