Coming off a stellar 2026 softball season that culminated in Oklahoma City at the Women's College World Series, the Alabama Crimson Tide looked to continue that success into fall ball. And that they did. On Nov. 13, the Tide concluded their fall season at an impressive 8-0, including most notably an 8-4 victory over their rivals, Auburn. This fall ball edition of the Iron Bowl of Softball was special because the two foes are not scheduled to meet in the 2027 regular season.
The biggest common thread in these preseason exhibitions? The Tide's newcomers acting like old vets. Noelani Livingstone in particular has been phenomenal in her first fall in crimson. Livingstone, while new to Tuscaloosa, is not new to college softball: her first two years were spent at Florida Southwestern, a program coached by assistant coach Ryan Iamurri's father, Robert. At Southwestern, Noelani was crowned NJCAA Player of the Year in 2026.
There is an obvious jump from NJCAA softball to SEC play, but if Nov. 13 was anything to go by, she seems to be adjusting just fine. Livingstone was 3-for-4, with three runs scored and a swiped bag against her new rivals. In fact, Livingstone seemed to be all over the bases all fall, with at least 10 hits in the Tide's exhibitions, and multiple RBIs credited to the newbie. While fall ball is a time for learning and experimenting, it is at the very least a promising start to Livingstone's career with Alabama.
Alabama softball freshmen also shined during the exhibition slate
The transfers were not the only new members of Team 31 contributing this fall. The freshman hitters made their first marks on the Rhoads House even before their first season had officially begun. In Paige Stanfield's first collegiate exhibition, she hit a two-run home run and a triple. Stanfield produced another multi-hit performance on Oct. 17, including an RBI double. She even had a late clutch hit to add to the Tide's lead against Auburn to close out the fall slate. Her early pop will be intriguing to look out for as she looks to begin her freshman season.
Ava Briski is living up to her last name early in her Alabama career. Murphy specifically praised her efforts as a baserunner this fall. Briski was also instrumental in the Tide's big seventh inning against the Tigers, driving in Noelani Livingstone, then scoring a run herself. Torynn Slaughter has also made an impact quickly. She was productive throughout the fall season, producing at least 4 RBI, including a solo shot. Ava Bush and Liv Keiter also provided sparks in the offense during the fall games, with both youngsters recording RBIs. Overall, these rookies definitely impressed in their first semester in Tuscaloosa.
However, offense isn't the only way the new arrivals made noise this fall. Kailey Plumlee, the lefty pitcher from Tennessee, began her time on the Bama mound with 6 scoreless innings and 8 strikeouts against Jones College. She backed this up with 5 strikeouts in her next outing, one that earned praise from Murphy himself. Finally, to wrap up her fall innings, she was a part of a 17-strikeout staff-wide performance against their SEC foes.
Despite a tough SEC schedule in the 2027 regular season, Team 31's fall has given fans plenty to be excited about. Freshmen, transfers, and returners alike led this team to a perfect 8-0 fall slate, including an always-important Iron Bowl victory against their biggest rivals. Fall ball is the time for learning about new pieces and playing around with old ones, so it's never a guarantee everything will translate to spring. But if any of these newcomers deliver in the regular season like they did the past month, Alabama might be a team for the country to watch. Until then, I'll be counting down the days until softball returns to Rhoads.
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