Pitcher Jocelyn Briski Nearing Return for Alabama Softball

As the Crimson Tide prepares for its toughest stretch of games so far, the freshman pitcher is trying to return from a bicep injury that kept her out of last week's games.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama softball is off to a 16-0 start, but will be facing its biggest tests of the season with this weekend's Crimson Classic at Rhoads Stadium. 

Not only will the Crimson Tide be going up against a top-25 opponent for the first time in Arizona, but the field top to bottom is the toughest slate of teams yet. Northern Iowa won its conference regular season last year and split a pair of games at Auburn last weekend, including a win over reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Maddie Penta. South Alabama already has a ranked SEC road win over South Carolina. 

Alabama also has a midweek game at Jacksonville State on Wednesday, meaning it will play six games in four days from Wednesday to Saturday. The depth of the pitching staff will be tested, and head coach Patrick Murphy provided some positive news related to freshman Jocelyn Briski's availability. 

"Briski should be able to [pitch]," Murphy said on Tuesday. "She’s going to through a bullpen today, so we’ll see how that goes. And it’s all on her tolerance."

Briski is from Phoenix, so Murphy said this is a big weekend for her with the potential of facing her home-state team. The freshman did not appear at all this past weekend after leaving the Virginia game with a bicep injury on Feb. 17 after throwing 4.2 innings. 

On the season, Briski is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 18 strikeouts in three appearances. 

Senior Lauren Esman also did not pitch or play last weekend after leaving the Southern Indiana game on Feb. 18 with a pec injury. Murphy said she is likely not available this weekend. 

Alabama jumps back into action Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Jacksonville State and then begins play at the Crimson Classic against Northern Iowa on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Where Alabama Softball is Ranked After Week 3