Alabama’s softball team added an important piece to its roster with a transfer from a rival announced Wednesday.

Former Tennessee catcher Ally Shipman used Twitter to declare her commitment to the Crimson Tide. The younger sister of former Vol All-American Madison Shipman would have two years of eligibility in Tuscaloosa. She’d be an important piece to fill the void left by All-American catcher and Alabama career home run leader Bailey Hemphill who graduated after the 2021 season.

Shipman started all 98 games she played in a Tennessee uniform, batting .331 over that span with 13 home runs and a .577 slugging percentage. She had a hit in three of the four games between the Vols and Tide last season including a two-hit night in an SEC semifinal loss in Tuscaloosa. She had just three passed balls while throwing out 7 of 23 potential base stealers.

I am so excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at The University of Alabama! Thank you to the coaches and staff at Alabama for this amazing opportunity! Can’t wait to get to work! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/HIusuwqICC

— Ally Shipman (@ally_shipman) July 7, 2021

Alabama’s roster also includes sophomore catcher Abby Doerr who started 17 of 18 games as a freshman in 2020 and 13 of the 39 games in which she appeared last season.

The Crimson Tide went 52-9 last season, falling a win short of the Women’s College World Series championship series. Hemphill is one of several key players lost to graduation while star pitcher Montana Fouts is entering her fourth season with the Tide.