Thursday, February 8
Atlanta, Ga.
5 p.m. CT
Alabama
vs
Villanova
Softball Set to Open 2024 Season this Weekend in Atlanta
2/7/2024 2:00:00 PM | Softball
The Crimson Tide will play five games at the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Twelfth-ranked Alabama softball is set to open its 2024 season this weekend with five games at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta, Ga. The Crimson Tide kicks things off Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. CT against Villanova before facing Longwood and Georgia Tech on both Friday (10 a.m. CT/3 p.m. CT) and Saturday (12:30 p.m. CT/3 p.m. CT).
This Week: Buzz Classic
- Atlanta, Ga. – Shirley Clements Mewborn Field
- Thursday, Feb. 8 vs. Villanova – 5 p.m. CT
- Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Longwood – 10 a.m. CT
- Friday, Feb. 9 at Georgia Tech – 3 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Longwood – 12:30 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Feb. 10 at Georgia Tech – 3 p.m. CT
- Streaming: ACC Network Extra (only vs. Georgia Tech)
- Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com
Scouting Alabama
- Alabama softball opens the 2024 season in Atlanta at the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech
- The Crimson Tide opens up Thursday night against Villanova before facing Longwood and the host Yellow Jackets on both Friday and Saturday for a total of five games over the weekend
- 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)
Inside the Series
- Overall vs. Villanova: 0-0 (First Meeting)
- Overall vs. Longwood: 4-0
- In Tuscaloosa: 4-0 | In Farmville: 0-0 | At Neutral Sites: 0-0
- Current Streak: Alabama +4
- Last Meeting: March 5, 2023 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - W, 8-0 (6 Inn.)
- Overall vs. Georgia Tech: 12-0
- In Tuscaloosa: 7-0Â | In Atlanta: 3-0 | At Neutral Sites: 2-0
- Current Streak: Alabama +12
- Last Meeting: March 27, 2019 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - W, 4-3
- Last Meeting in Atlanta: March 14, 2018 - W, 3-1
Kayla Beaver Racking Up Preseason Honors
- Fifth-year senior pitcher Kayla Beaver has earned plenty of preseason recognition ahead of her debut season at Alabama
- She was one of 50 players named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List after being a finalist last season at Central Arkansas
- Softball America placed Beaver on its Second Team Preseason All-America list while also ranking her No. 22 on its preseason Top 100 Players list and No. 9 on its Top Pitchers list
- Beaver came in at No. 76 in D1 Softball's own Preseason Top 100 player rankings
Meet the Crimson Tide Newcomers
- Fifth-year senior Kayla Beaver (RHP - Jackson, Tenn.) arrives in Tuscaloosa after four successful seasons at Central Arkansas, leaving as the program leader in ERA (1.52), second in wins (74) and third in strikeouts (514). As a senior in 2023, she was a USA Softball Player of the Year finalist with her 11 shutouts ranking third among all Division I pitchers, with her 1.15 ERA and 194 strikeouts also ranking in the top 10
- Freshman Jocelyn Briski (RHP - Phoenix, Ariz.) was a PGF All-American in 2023 and a two-time Region Player of the Year at Desert Vista High School, where she is the school's all-time leader in wins (54), strikeouts (1,009), ERA (0.54), shutouts (30), no-hitters (8) and perfect games (2)
- Junior Kendal Clark (UTIL - Humboldt, Iowa) was a NJCAA First Team All-American at Des Moines Area Community College, hitting .559 with 90 hits, 49 of which went for extra bases, along with 101 RBIs in 56 games
- Sophomore Alea Johnson (RHP - Fairhope, Ala.) made 12 appearances, including seven starts, as a freshman at LSU in 2023 with a 7-1 record and 1.41 ERA. She attended Fairhope High School and played club softball with the Birmingham Thunderbolts, winning a PGF 18U title alongside Tide teammates Kenleigh Cahalan, Marlie Giles and Larissa Preuitt
- Freshman Lauren Johnson (OF - Franklin, Tenn.) is the younger sister of current Tide senior Jenna Johnson and was named the 2022 Middle Tennessee Softball Player of the Year. She broke Centennial High School records for RBIs, home runs, runs scored and career batting average
- Sophomore Kinley Pate played her freshman season at Samford University in Birmingham, appearing in 36 games including 17 starts. She scored 13 runs and was second on the team with eight stolen bases in nine attempts
- Sophomore Riley Valentine began her collegiate career at Texas A&M, appearing in 40 games with 20 starts last year. Nine of her 12 hits went for extra bases, including six home runs, and she was named SEC Freshman of the Week on March 14
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
- 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 - ESPNU
- 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
Up Next: Easton Bama Bash (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- 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
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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IF
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UTIL
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IF
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UTIL
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RHP
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OF
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OF
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OF
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OF
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