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PAGE 4B September 2025
Alabama Whips Wisconsin
UAB Softball has announced an eight-game slate for the 2025 fall season. All eight matchups will be at Mary Bowers Field, featuring three DII and five community college programs from Alabama and Mississippi. The fall season begins with a full day of games at Mary Bowers Field on Oct. 3 as UAB hosts Enterprise State and Shelton State for a neutral-site game before the Blazers play back-to-back against either team. UAB welcomes Mississippi College to Mary Bowers Field on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 3 p.m. The following week, Northeast Mississippi and Montevallo will come to the Magic City on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and Friday, Oct. 17, respectively. Itawamba and Wallace State the week after on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 24, respectively. The fall season ends on Friday, Oct. 31, when AUM visits Mary Bowers Field. UAB returns the bats of Ashlyn Shirah, Hannah Dorsett, and Hannah Miles, each of whom hit above .300 last season. All five of the pitchers who made an appearance in 2025 return for 2026. Four transfers and four freshmen add to Taylor Smartt's rising squad. Full Schedule UAB Fall Softball Schedule • Oct. 3, 3:30 p.m., vs. Enterprise State • Oct. 3, 6 p.m., vs. Shelton State UAB Softball Sets Fall 2025 Slate
By Myra W. Pierce The Sports Ledger
University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White has announced that Lady Vols softball head coach Karen Weekly has signed a contract extension that will keep her at the helm of the program through the 2030 season. A 30-year collegiate head coaching veteran with 1,355 career victories, Weekly will enter her 25th season leading Tennessee in 2026. Weekly currently ranks third among active head coaches in wins and ninth all-time in Division I history. "Karen has established a championship program in every area, and we are thrilled to have her coaching for the long term on Rocky Top," said White. "Competitive excellence is one of the core values of our athletics department, and Karen truly embodies this principle. We look forward to continuing our pursuit of titles under her dynamic leadership." Since her arrival in Knoxville, Weekly has guided Tennessee to 20 consecutive NCAA Regionals, 14 Super Regional appearances and nine trips to the Women's College World Series. The Lady Vols have finished in the top three nationally on seven occasions, highlighted by two runner- up finishes. Under her direction, UT has claimed six SEC titles, including back-to-back regular season crowns in 2023 and 2024. The Lady Vols also captured the 2023 SEC Tournament championship, marking the first time in program history that Tennessee won both the regular season and tournament titles in the same year. Over the past three seasons, Tennessee has won 142 On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the University of Alabama football team improved their season record to 2–1 with a decisive 38-14 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Quarterback Ty Simpson led the offense with an impressive 382 passing yards and four touchdowns. His top targets included Ryan Williams, who scored twice and racked up 116 yards; Germie Bernard had a 43-yard touchdown reception and a 2-yard rushing score; and Isaiah Horton added a 13-yard touchdown catch. Crimson Tide Kicker Conor Talty contributed a 33- yard field goal and was perfect on all point-after attempts. Defensively, Alabama recorded two interceptions and one sack, while both teams kept turnovers at bay with zero fumbles. Penalties were nearly even, with Alabama committing seven and Wisconsin six. The non-conference win showcased Alabama’s offensive depth and defensive discipline, setting a strong tone for the rest of the season. The Crimson Tide has an open week on September 20, which will give the program a much need break before starting SEC action. Alabama is set to travel to Athens to battle the Bulldogs on September 27. Georgia (3-0) opened SEC action on September 13 with an 44-41 overtime victory over the Tennessee Volunteers. The Bulldogs also have an open week on September 20. Tennessee (2-1) will host UAB on September 20.
Photo Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
• Oct. 11, 3 p.m., vs Mississippi College • Oct. 15, 5 p.m., vs Northeast Mississippi • Oct. 17, 5 p.m., vs Montevallo • Oct. 22, 5 p.m., vs Itawamba • Oct. 24, 4 p.m., vs Wallace State • Oct. 31, 5 p.m., vs AUM *All Times CT
Alabama Wide Receiver Germie Bernard (5) in action against Wisconsin.
Tennessee Softball Coach Agrees To Contract Extension games and advanced to the national semifinals at the WCWS in 2023 and 2025.
The Southeastern Conference has released the 2026 SEC Softball schedule, which includes eight league series game for the Alabama Crimson Tide, along with the 2026 SEC Softball Tournament in Lexington, KY. The Crimson Tide’s SEC schedule this season includes home series against Arkansas (March 13-15), Texas (April 3-5), Kentucky (April 17-19) and South Carolina (April 30-May 2) along with road trips to Ole Miss (March 6-8), Missouri (March 20-22), Auburn (April 10-12) and Tennessee (April 24-26). The Kentucky Wildcats will host the 2026 SEC Softball Tournament, set to take place May 5-9 at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky. All game dates are subject to change. Game times and television information will be announced at a later date. Alabama returns 13 players from last year’s squad, including All-American Audrey Vandagriff, while adding eight newcomers, including six freshmen and two transfers. Alabama Softball's 2026 SEC Schedule Returning to Jane B. Moore Field on Friday, Nov. 7, the Tigers host Wallace State at 5 p.m. CT. The final fall contest will feature a rematch from the 2025 NCAA Regional as Florida State heads to the Plains on Saturday, Nov. 8. First pitch versus the Seminoles will be announced at a later time. Both of Auburn’s November contests are scheduled for 10 innings. All fall contests at Jane B. Moore Field are free and open to the public. Auburn rounds out the month of October with its only road contest of the fall. The Tigers trek to Georgia Tech on Friday, Oct. 24 for a 6 p.m. CT contest. Auburn fans will have their first chance to see Auburn softball in action next month as Chris and Kate Malveaux announced the 2025 fall exhibition schedule, which features seven contests over October and November. The Tigers are slated to play six total contests at Jane B. Moore Field throughout the fall. Auburn will also make the short trek to Georgia Tech for a lone road contest in late October. The exhibition slate features three Division I opponents and four NJCAA foes. Auburn opens the fall slate at Jane B. Moore Field on Friday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. CT as the Tigers take on Gulf Coast State in a 10-inning contest. The Tigers return to the diamond the following week to host Chipola College on Friday, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. CT for another 10-inning affair. Auburn’s lone doubleheader of the fall is slated for Sunday, Oct. 19 as Auburn faces Northwest Florida State at 12 p.m. CT before taking on Georgia Southern at 2:30 p.m. CT. Auburn Softball Sets Fall Schedule
"Ralph and I came to Tennessee because they invested in and valued women's athletics more than anyone in the country," Weekly said. "Entering my 25th season, the commitment to women is better than ever. We are truly the Everything School. I am privileged to coach at a university where every program and athlete matters. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the leadership provided by Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White, Chancellor Donde Plowman, and President Randy Boyd. I am a Lady Vol for life!" Weekly has coached some of the sport's brightest stars, recruiting and developing talents such as NCAA career strikeout leader Monica Abbott and Honda Award winners Abbott (2007) and Madison Shipman (2014). Star Karlyn Pickens has thrived under her leadership, earning SEC Freshman of the Year, back-to-back SEC Pitcher of the Year honors and consensus first-team All-America recognition in 2024 and 2025. Overall, her players have collected 45 All-America honors, 107 All-SEC or SEC All-Freshman selections and 86 NFCA All-Region nods, while 20 Lady Vols have gone on to play professionally. The 2018 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee owns more victories than any coach in Tennessee Athletics history, compiling a 1,132-357-2 record (.760) with the Lady Vols. Weekly's teams have produced seven 50-win seasons and three consecutive 60-plus-win campaigns from 2005 to 2007, while helping establish Sherri Parker Lee Stadium as one of the premier venues in college softball.
2025 Sardis Cheerleaders Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
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