Alabama Outlasts Virginia Tech in 1-0 Pitcher’s Duel Friday in Tuscaloosa

Friday, March 22

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6 p.m. CT

Alabama

25-5

Virginia Tech

24-5-1

Virginia Tech

Alabama

Alabama Outlasts Virginia Tech in 1-0 Pitcher’s Duel Friday in Tuscaloosa

3/22/2024 9:16:00 PM | Softball

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The Crimson Tide hands the Hokies their first shutout loss of the season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In a low-scoring pitcher's duel Friday night at Rhoads Stadium, a timely RBI single from Kendal Clark and a stellar outing in the circle from Kayla Beaver pushed No. 13 Alabama to a 1-0 victory over No. 16 Virginia Tech, handing the Hokies their first shutout loss of the season.

Alabama (25-5) held Virginia Tech (24-5-1) at bay in the early innings, as the leadoff batter reached safely for the Hokies in the second, third and fourth innings but could not scratch a run across. The Crimson Tide went 14 up, 14 down to start before Bailey Dowling drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth as Alabama's first baserunner. Kinley Pate, pinch running, stole second to set up Clark for an RBI single up the middle, plating the first run of the game for either team.

Virginia Tech stranded two on in the top of the sixth and a leadoff single from Kristen White in the bottom half couldn't be pushed across as it remained 1-0 in the top of the seventh. A routine groundout and a stellar play up the middle from Kenleigh Cahalan put two outs on the board before Kayla Beaver (10-2) shut the door with her sixth strikeout of the night to end it.

With her RBI single today, Clark is now 3-for-7 in the last three games with three RBIs and today's hit is her third this season against a ranked opponent, previously doing so in back-to-back games vs. Florida (March 11) and Florida State (March 13). The win was Beaver's eighth complete game of the season and fourth solo shutout, with all five hits allowed being singles.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"Tonight was a great pitching performance by both teams. [Virginia Tech's] Emma Lemley has improved a lot since we faced her as a freshman. I have a lot of respect for [VT Head Coach] Pete D'Amour and his team making the trip down here. It's a conference bye weekend for both schools, so kudos to them for coming out. Overall, it was an amazing college softball game here on a Friday night."

Highlights

Alabama improves to 7-0 all-time vs. Virginia Tech, including a 5-0 mark in Tuscaloosa
The Crimson Tide is 6-0 vs. ACC opponents this year, beating Georgia Tech and Virginia twice each, plus single games against Florida State and Virginia Tech
Alabama is 6-4 vs. ranked opponents this season
The shutout loss was the first this season for the Hokies, with two runs as their lowest scoring output prior to tonight
Three of Kendal Clark's seven RBIs this season have come in the last three games
Bailey Dowling's walk improves her reached-base streak to eight games
The win was Kayla Beaver's eighth complete game of the season and her fourth solo shutout

Scoring Summary

B5 | Kendal Clark roped a single up the middle, driving in Kinley Pate from second (1-0, 2 Out)

Up Next: vs. #16/12 Virginia Tech (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Saturday, March 23 – 1 p.m. CT

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