TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama makes a quick trip to Birmingham this week for its final non-conference game of the regular season, against Samford on Tuesday, April 9 at 5:00 pm CT.
This week: #14/15 Alabama (29-8) at Samford (12-25)
- Tuesday, April 9 – 5:00 PM CT
- Birmingham, AL – Samford Softball Stadium
- Streaming: ESPN+
- Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com | University application
Alabama Intelligence
- Alabama plays its final non-conference game of the regular season this week, making a quick trip to Birmingham to face Samford on Tuesday, April 9 at 5:00 pm CT
- The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs met earlier this season on March 19 in Tuscaloosa, with Alabama winning 11-2 in five innings
- The Tide head into the week 29-8 overall and 6-6 in SEC play after a sweep against Ole Miss last weekend in Tuscaloosa
- Tide pitching is second in the SEC in ERA (1.67) and earned runs allowed (58) and third in hits allowed (174), runs allowed (81) and home runs allowed (13)
- Kenley Cahalan led the SEC with 91 defensive assists and Callie Heavilin is eighth with 69
- Alabama returns 15 letterwinners from last year’s Women’s College World Series team, including 2023 All-SEC honoree Larissa Preit2023 NFCA for all regions Kenley Cahalan2023 All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Team Jenna Johnson and 2022 All-SEC and All-Region Bailey Dowling
- Seven newcomers are on the Tide’s 2024 roster, including freshmen Lauren Johnson (Franklin, Tennessee) and Jocelyn Briskey (Phoenix, Arizona) and transfers Kayla Beaver (Central Arkansas), Kendall Clarke (DMACC), Alley Johnson (LSU), Kinley Pate (Samford) and Riley Valentine (Texas A&M)
Inside the series
- Total vs. Samford: 27-2
- At Tuscaloosa: 20-0 | At Birmingham: 7-2 | At neutral sites: 0-0
- Current streak: Alabama +27
- Last Meeting: March 19, 2024 – Tuscaloosa, AL – W, 11-2 (5)
- Last meeting in Birmingham: April 11, 2023 – W, 6-2
Last Time Out: vs. Ole Miss
- Last weekend, Alabama picked up its first SEC series win in stunning fashion, taking all three games from Ole Miss at Rhodes Stadium
- The Crimson Tide held the Rebels to just two runs all weekend, their lowest total in an SEC series this season
- Sunday’s game was Alabama’s 10th multi-home run game of the season, four of which came in SEC play
- Kayla Beaver went 2-0 in two starts in the circle, going 11.2 shutout innings with 16 strikeouts
- Jocelyn Briskey earned a complete game second game, her first career SEC start, allowing just one unearned run
- Bailey Dowling was 4-for-8 in the series, scoring twice and hitting a triple
- Kendall Clarke led the team with four RBIs, three of which came on a home run in Sunday’s finale
Tidal trends
- Alabama is 25-2 this season when scoring first and 14-0 when scoring in the first inning
- The Crimson Tide is 28-0 when tied or leading after 4.0 innings
- Over the last 15 games, Kenley Cahalan went 16-for-45 (.356) with four runs scored, 12 RBIs, six doubles, two triples and a home run and is currently on a team-high five hitting streak
- Kendall Clarke reached base safely in eight straight games, with seven hits and five walks during that stretch
- In SEC play, Kristen White went 8-for-22 (.364) with four runs scored
- Kayla Beaver owns 1.26 ERA against ranked teams this season, allowing just eight earned runs in 44.1 innings with 32 strikeouts
Nothing extra
- Alabama’s pitching has allowed just 36 extra base hits this season, the second-lowest total in the SEC, behind only Florida’s 34
- The Tide is second in the SEC in doubles allowed (22) and triples (1) and third in home runs allowed (13)
Extra base hits are allowed
- Florida – 34
- Alabama – 36
- Tennessee – 38
- Arkansas – 47
- South Carolina – 50
- LSU – 51
- Texas A&M – 51
- Georgia – 60
- Mississippi State – 60
- Ole Miss – 62
- Maroon – 72
- Kentucky – 75
- Missouri – 76
Turning two
- Alabama has 15 double plays this season, four shy of reaching the top 10 in a single season
- The Tide hit 19 doubleheaders in 2022, the most since reaching the same mark in 2018.
- Alabama hasn’t reached 20 or more double plays in a season since 2007
Kayla Beaver Ranked No. 6 in the latest Softball America player rankings
- Softball America released its updated position player rankings in early April, p Kayla Beaver at No. 6 on the pitchers’ list
- Beaver is 13-3 with three saves in 22 appearances this season, including nine complete games and five solo shutouts, while striking out 118 over 109.0 innings
Alabama ranked in the SEC (top 5)
A team
- ERA – 2nd – 1.67
- Earned Runs Allowed – 2nd – 58
- Doubles allowed – 2nd – 22
- Hit By Pitch – 3rd – 42
- Hits Allowed – 3rd – 174
- Runs Allowed – 3rd – 81
- Home Runs Allowed – 3rd – 13
- Batters Struck Out – T3rd – 251
- Wed. – 4th – .196
Individual
Alabama in SEC Play
- Alabama is 508-203 (.714) all-time in SEC play, including a 473-182 (.722) mark under the head coach Patrick Murphy
- The Crimson Tide won six SEC regular season titles (2006, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’14 and ’19) and six SEC Tournament titles (1998, 2003, ’05, ’10, ’12 and ’21 )
- Alabama has never had a losing record in conference play, winning 20 or more conference games 11 times
- The Tide is the only team to win the SEC Tournament on its home court, doing so in 2012 and 2021.
Sweet home, Alabama
- Alabama has a 726-139 (.839) all-time record at home, including a 690-123 (.849) mark under the head coach Patrick Murphy (1999-present) and a record of 671-119 (.849) at Rhoads Stadium, the Tide’s home field since 2000.
- Since Rhoads Stadium opened in 2000, Alabama has won at least 25 home games in 20 of the previous 24 years there
Alabama Softball scheduled for 16 televised games
- The Crimson Tide is scheduled to appear 16 times on the ESPN family of networks throughout the 2024 regular season.
- Over half of the Crimson Tide’s league will be nationally televised, including the entire Texas A&M (April 13-15) and Auburn (May 2-4) series.
- A non-conference game on the road at Florida State on Wednesday, March 13 will also be broadcast on the ACC Network
- All home games and every SEC road game will also be streamed online via the SEC Network Plus digital platform, available on WatchESPN.com or on the ESPN app
- Additionally, the entire 2024 SEC Softball Tournament will also be broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks
Alabama TV Schedule 2024
- Sunday, March 10 vs. Florida – SEC Network
- Monday, March 11 vs. Florida – SEC Network
- Wednesday, March 13 at Florida State – ACC Network
- Saturday, March 16 at Georgia – SEC Network
- Sunday, March 17 at Georgia – SEC Network
- Saturday, April 6 vs. Ole Miss – SEC Network
- Saturday, April 13 vs. Texas A&M – ESPN2
- Sunday, April 14 vs. Texas A&M – ESPN2
- Monday, April 15 vs. Texas A&M – SEC Network
- Saturday, April 20 at Arkansas – SEC Network
- Sunday, April 21 at Arkansas – ESPNU
- Saturday, April 27 vs. Tennessee – ESPN2
- Sunday, April 28 vs. Tennessee – ESPNU
- Thursday, May 2 at Auburn – ESPNU
- Friday, May 3 at Auburn – SEC Network
- Saturday, May 4 at Auburn – SEC Network
Next: vs. Texas A&M (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Saturday, April 13 – 11:30am CT – ESPN2
- Sunday, April 14 – 3:30pm CT – ESPN2
- Monday, April 15 – 6:00 pm CT – SEC Network
