Alabama Softball Takes Top Spot in First RPI Rankings

After six weeks of NCAA College Softball play, the first RPI rankings were released Tuesday. Despite the Oklahoma Sooners being at the top of every weekly ranking poll this week, the Alabama Crimson Tide claims the top spot on the RPI rankings.

UCLA, LSU, Florida and Boston University follow Alabama to round out the top five.

The RPI rankings are a way to rank teams based on its wins, losses and strength of schedule.

Alabama’s current record is 24-2 overall. The Crimson Tide is 4-0 away, 1-0 at a neutral site and 19-2 at home.

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The Crimson Tide has already had some significant wins this season.

Head coach Patrick Murphy and his team swept Liberty (6-3 and 8-1) and the LSU Tigers (5-2 and 13-5) in the Easton Bama Bash. Alabama racked up 32 runs against its opponents and held them to 11. Liberty currently sits at No. 11 on the RPI rankings and LSU at No. 3.

In the first week of SEC play the Crimson Tide traveled West to play a three-game series against its in-state rival, the Auburn Tigers. Starting pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl shut out Auburn in game one of the series (4-1). Pitchers Kilfoyl and Montana Fouts were able to hold Auburn to three runs in games two (4-1) and three (4-2) to sweep the series. Auburn currently sits at No. 7 on the RPI rankings.

This past weekend Alabama won its series against Tennessee 2-1. After losing game one 3-4, the Crimson Tide bounced back to defeat the Lady Volunteers in game two, 7-1. Game three was scoreless through four and a half innings until the Crimson Tide scored the winning three runs on three hits. Starting pitcher Fouts clinched the series with a shoutout in Rhoads Stadium. Tennessee currently sits at No. 17 on the RPI rankings.

Alabama has two losses so far.

The first was a 1-0 loss against South Alabama. South Alabama’s starting pitcher freshman Olivia Lackie was able to shutout Alabama and give up just three hits. The offense was not able to get anything done and Fouts added her first loss to her win-loss total.

The second loss came this past weekend to SEC rival Tennessee. The Lady Volunteers's starting pitcher Ashley Rogers held the Crimson Tide to three hits and struck out seven batters. Despite Fouts’s efforts she recorded another loss to her win-loss total.

The Crimson Tide has some notable RPI top-25 three-game series coming up on its schedule.

Alabama will begin its series play against No. 8 Arkansas on April 9, No. 4 Florida on April 16 and No. 19 Georgia on April 30.

The Crimson Tide will play North Alabama on Wednesday, March 24 at 6 p.m. CT. Make sure to tune in to Praise 93.3 FM to listen to the game.