Expectations are lower for Alabama softball this season than fans are used to. While the Crimson Tide enters the 2026 season ranked No. 16, Patrick Murphy's team was projected to finish 9th in the SEC preseason coaches poll.
The program has been far from its dominant self during the peak of Murphy's powers. Limited power at the plate has been an obvious defect, and Alabama has gone just 22-26 in SEC play over the last two years.
But those concerns were of little merit, at least for one night.
In Thursday's season opener against Villanova, Alabama got the job done in just five innings, run-ruling the Wildcats 17-0, sparked by an 11-run third inning. Along with the bats pounding the ball, the Tide's pitchers combined to toss a no-hitter in a dominant season-opening win.
Alabama softball dominates Villanova 17-0 to open the season
Alabama hit seven home runs against Villanova, tying a single-game program record set back in 2011. More encouraging, the seven homers were hit by seven different batters. Alexis Pupilo, Salen Hawkins, Audrey Vandagriff, Brooke Wells, Ana Roman, Lauren Johnson, and Ambrey Taylor all went deep.
Vic Moten and Braya Hodges combined for five no-hit innings. Moten is a true freshman and the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Alabama in 2025. Her debut was sparkling: three innings, no hits, one walk, and six strikeouts.
Hodges, a sophomore, didn't miss a beat when she got on the mound. She threw two innings, walking one, and striking out six.
"What a great way to start the 30th season of Alabama softball," Murphy said, via Alabama Athletics. "I was very happy with the start from Vic [Moten] and the closing effort from Braya [Hodges]. Offensively, there were great at-bats all day long from the entire lineup."
Murphy's club has four more games coming this weekend in Atlanta. They'll face East Carolina and Georgia Tech in a Friday doubleheader, and then Villanova and Georgia Tech in another doubleheader on Saturday.
Next weekend is the Easton Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, where Alabama will face opposition from Purdue, Liberty, and Georgia Southern.