Saturday, March 9
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2 p.m. CT
Alabama
vs
Florida
Alabama Welcomes Florida to Rhoads Stadium to Open Conference Play
3/7/2024 1:29:00 PM | Softball
Game Notes (PDF)Live StatsLive Audio (97.5 FM)Saturday Video (SECN+)Sunday Video (SEC Network)Monday Video (SEC Network)
Games two and three between the Crimson Tide and Gators will air live on the SEC Network
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 10 Alabama (19-1) opens conference play this weekend at Rhoads Stadium, hosting the 13th-ranked Florida Gators (19-3) for three games starting Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. CT. Games two and three of the weekend series will air live on the SEC Network.
This Week: #11/10 Alabama (19-1) vs. #13/13 Florida (19-3)
- Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Rhoads Stadium
- Saturday, March 9 – 2 p.m. CT
- Sunday, March 10 – 5 p.m. CT
- Monday, March 11 – 6 p.m. CT
- Video: SECN+ (Saturday), SEC Network (Sunday, Monday)
- Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com
Scouting Alabama
- Alabama opens conference play this weekend, hosting Florida for three games at Rhoads Stadium starting Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. CT
- The final two games of the series on Sunday (5 p.m. CT) and Monday (6 p.m. CT) will be aired live on the SEC Network
- The Crimson Tide is 19-1 heading into conference play, going 3-1 at last weekend's T-Mobile Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa with a loss to South Alabama, a win over Northern Iowa and two wins against then-No. 19 Arizona
- Alabama has scored first in 17 of its 19 wins, doing so 11 times in the first inning
- The Tide pitching staff has thrown eight shutouts so far this season and has not allowed more than three runs in a game
- Alabama is in the midst of a 10-game stretch that includes nine ranked matchups: two against Arizona (March 1-2), three against Florida (March 9-11), one at Florida State (March 13) and three at Georgia (March 15-17)
- The Tide is ranked as high as No. 9 in this week's national polls
- 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. Florida: 45-40
- In Tuscaloosa: 19-16 | In Gainesville: 23-14 | At Neutral Sites: 3-10
- Current Streak: Florida +1
- Last Meeting: April 11, 2022 - L, 7-12 - Gainesville, Fla.
- Last Meeting in Tuscaloosa: May 15, 2021 - W, 4-0 (SEC Tournament Championship)
Alabama on SEC Opening Weekend
- Alabama is 59-24 (.711) all-time on SEC opening weekend, including a 36-7 (.837) mark at home
- This season marks the 15th time the Crimson Tide has opened conference play at home
- Last season's opener in Tuscaloosa against Arkansas was the first time Alabama began conference play at home and lost the series
Last Time Out: T-Mobile Crimson Classic
- Alabama went 3-1 at last weekend's T-Mobile Crimson Classic, dropping its first loss of the season to South Alabama while earning a win over Northern Iowa and two against then-No. 19 Arizona
- The Tide pitching staff held its weekend opponents to three runs, two earned, over 28.0 innings pitched for a 0.50 team ERA with 24 strikeouts
- Abby Duchscherer and Marlie Giles each hit a home run against the Wildcats, extending their team-leading HR totals to five and four, respectively
Kayla Beaver and Abby Duchscherer earn National Recognition from Softball America and D1 Softball
- Softball America released its updated player position rankings this week, with Kayla Beaver at No. 3 on its pitchers list
- Beaver is 7-0 with three saves over 10 appearances this season, including four complete games and a pair of shutouts while striking out 59 over 48.0 innings pitched
- Abby Duchscherer came in at No. 5 for first base on both Softball America and D1 Softball's lates position power rankings
- Duchscherer is batting .400 on the season with a team-leading 24 hits, four doubles, five home runs and 22 RBIs
Alabama in the SEC Rankings (Top 5)
Team
- ERA - 1st - 0.59
- Fewest Runs Allowed - 1st - 19
- Fewest Earned Runs Allowed - 1st - 11
- Batters Struck Out - 2nd - 152
- Opposing Batting Avg. - 2nd - .150
- Fewest Hits Allowed - 2nd - 67
- Fewest Home Runs Allowed - 2nd - 4
- Fielding Double Plays - T4th - 8
- Fewest Walks Allowed - 5th - 31
- Fielding Pct. - 5th - .976
- Caught Stealing By - T5th - 4
Individual
- ERA - Alea Johnson - 1st - 0.28
- ERA - Jaala Torrence - 2nd - 0.57
- ERA - Kayla Beaver - 3rd - 0.58
- Opposing Batting Avg. - Jaala Torrence - 4th - .128
Alabama in SEC Play
- Alabama is 502-197 (.718) all-time in SEC play, including a 467-176 (.726) mark under Head Coach Patrick Murphy
- The Crimson Tide has 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 field, doing so in 2012 and 2021
Sweet Home Alabama
- Alabama sports a 719-136 (.841) all-time record at home, including a 683-120 (.851) mark under Head Coach Patrick Murphy (1999-pres.) and a 664-116 (.851) record 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 its 24 previous years there
Up Next
- Wednesday, March 13 at #14/16 Florida State - Tallahassee, Fla. - 5 p.m. CT - ACC Network
- Friday, March 15 at #7/6 Georgia - Athens, Ga. - 5 p.m. CT
- Saturday, March 16 at #7/6 Georgia - Athens, Ga. - 11 a.m. CT - SEC Network
- Sunday, March 17 at #7/6 Georgia - Athens, Ga. - 11 a.m. CT - SEC Network
Players Mentioned
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UTIL
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IF
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UTIL
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OF
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OF
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