Softball Makes 2024 Home Debut Hosting Easton Bama Bash

Friday, February 16

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

4 p.m. CT

Alabama

St. Thomas

Kenleigh Cahalan (31) stretches before hitting against Longwood (Feb. 9, 2024)

Softball Makes 2024 Home Debut Hosting Easton Bama Bash

2/15/2024 11:49:00 AM | Softball

Game Notes (PDF)Live Stats Live Audio (97.5 FM)Friday Video vs. St. Thomas Friday Video vs. Virginia Saturday Video vs. St. Thomas Saturday Video vs. Virginia Sunday Video vs. Southern Indiana

The Crimson Tide welcomes St. Thomas, Virginia and Southern Indiana to Rhoads Stadium

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 11 Alabama (5-0) makes its home debut this weekend, hosting the Easton Bama Bash at Rhoads Stadium. The Crimson Tide faces St. Thomas (0-5) and Virginia (3-2) on both Friday and Saturday before concluding its weekend Sunday against Southern Indiana (0-0).

This Week: Easton Bama Bash

Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Rhoads Stadium
- Friday, Feb. 16 vs. St. Thomas – 4 p.m. CT
- Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Virginia – 6:30 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. St. Thomas – 11 a.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Virginia – 1:30 p.m. CT
- Sunday, Feb. 18 vs. Southern Indiana – 1 p.m. CT
Streaming: SEC Network Plus
Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com

Scouting Alabama

Alabama makes its 2024 Rhoads Stadium debut this weekend, hosting the Easton Bama Bash starting Friday, Feb. 16
The Crimson Tide will play five games over three days, facing off against St. Thomas and Virginia twice each before concluding on Sunday against Southern Indiana
Alabama is coming off a 5-0 start to its season at last weekend's Buzz Classic in Atlanta
The Tide is ranked as high as No. 11 in this week's national polls
Lauren Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Week after a stellar debut weekend at the Buzz Classic
Alabama returns 15 letterwinners from last year's Women's College World Series squad, including 2023 All-SEC honoree Larissa Preuitt, 2023 NFCA All-Region Kenleigh Cahalan, 2023 All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Team Jenna Johnson and 2022 All-SEC and All-Region Bailey Dowling
Seven newcomers are on the Tide roster in 2024, including freshmen Lauren Johnson (Franklin, Tenn.) and Jocelyn Briski (Phoenix, Ariz.) and transfers Kayla Beaver (Central Arkansas), Kendal Clark (DMACC), Alea Johnson (LSU), Kinley Pate (Samford) and Riley Valentine (Texas A&M)

Last Time Out: Buzz Classic

Overall vs. St. Thomas: 0-0 (First Meeting)
Overall vs. Virginia: 1-0
- In Tuscaloosa: 0-0 | In Charlottesville: 0-0 | At Neutral Sites: 1-0
- Current Streak: Alabama +1
- Last Meeting: March 6, 2011 - W, 4-0 - Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Overall vs. Southern Indiana: 0-0 (First Meeting)

Last Time Out: Buzz Classic

Alabama went 5-0 to open the season at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta, defeating Villanova on Thursday before earning wins over Longwood and Georgia Tech on both Friday and Saturday
The Crimson Tide outscored its opponents 31-4, with only two of the four runs allowed going down as earned runs
Fifth-year senior pitcher Kayla Beaver made the most of her Alabama debut, throwing a seven inning no-hitter against the Wildcats, the 46th in program history and just the second to happen in a season-opening game
Lauren Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Week after leading the Tide with a .545 batting average over the weekend, hitting 6-for-11 with four runs scored and three stolen bases
Sophomore Abby Duchscherer led the team with eight hits and her seven RBIs only trailed Kali Heivilin's eight for the team lead

Easton Bama Bash History

Alabama holds a 97-12 all-time record at the Easton Bama Bash, hosting the tournament every year but once since 1998
All three opponents will be making their first trip to Tuscaloosa, with St. Thomas and Southern Indiana having never previously played the Tide at any venue
Including this year's three opponents, 62 different teams have traveled to Rhoads Stadium for the Easton Bama Bash

Kayla Beaver Throws No-Hitter in Alabama Debut

Fifth-year senior Kayla Beaver wasted no time making a name for herself in an Alabama uniform, throwing a no-hitter in her Crimson Tide debut last Thursday against Villanova
Beaver, who played the last four seasons at Central Arkansas, threw the 46th no-hitter in program history and the third of her career, previously throwing two in 2020 with the Bears
One of her two no-hitters at Central Arkansas came in her very first game, giving her no-hitters in her debuts at both Central Arkansas and Alabama
It was just the second Tide no-hitter to be thrown in a season opener, with Montana Fouts and Sarah Cornell teaming up for a five-inning no hitter on Feb. 12, 2021 at Alabama State in a 10-0 win

Lauren Johnson Named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week

The Southeastern Conference announced its first slate of weekly softball awards Monday, with Alabama freshman Lauren Johnson as one of two SEC Freshman of the Week honorees
The Franklin, Tenn., native made a big splash in her Crimson Tide debut at last weekend's Buzz Classic in Atlanta, posting a team-leading .545 batting average on six hits along with four runs scored, two RBIs and three stolen bases
She went 3-for-3 in her first career start against Longwood on Friday, swiping a pair of bases, and added another multi-hit performance in the rematch against the Lancers on Saturday
Two of her six hits last weekend were doubles, making her one of four Tide players to earn a pair of doubles over the five games in Atlanta
The award is the first of Johnson's career and the first for any Tide player this season
Overall, Alabama has taken home 25 Freshman of the Week awards in program history, with current Alabama sophomore Larissa Preuitt as the last to do so on May 8, 2023

Alabama Softball Scheduled for 16 TV Games

The Crimson Tide is slated to appear 16 times on the ESPN family of networks throughout the 2024 regular season
Over half of the Crimson Tide's league slate will be nationally televised, including the entirety of the Texas A&M (April 13-15) and Auburn (May 2-4) series
A non-conference matchup on the road at Florida State on Wednesday, March 13 will also be aired on the ACC Network
All home games and every SEC road game will also be streamed online through the SEC Network Plus digital platform, available at WatchESPN.com or on the ESPN app
Additionally, the entirety of the 2024 SEC Softball Tournament will also be aired live on the ESPN family of networks

Alabama 2024 TV Schedule