Softball Shuts Out Ole Miss, 4-0, in Friday’s Series Opener

Friday, April 5

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6 p.m. CT

Alabama

27-8, 4-6

Ole Miss

21-16, 3-10

Ole Miss

Alabama

Softball Shuts Out Ole Miss, 4-0, in Friday’s Series Opener

4/5/2024 9:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Kayla Beaver threw a complete-game shutout, Kenleigh Cahalan had three of the team’s four RBIs

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball shut out Ole Miss, 4-0, Friday night at Rhoads Stadium to open the weekend series.

Alabama (27-8, 4-6 SEC) took the first lead of the game over Ole Miss (21-16, 3-10 SEC) after a Bailey Dowling triple eventually led to an RBI single from Kendal Clark in the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the fifth with two out and the bases loaded, Kenleigh Cahalan ripped a double into the gap to drive in all three runners and make it a 4-0 game. With the score the same in the top of the seventh, the Rebels loaded the bases with two out to bring the tying run to the plate before a long fly ball to center ended the game.

Kayla Beaver (12-3) pitched her ninth complete game of the season and her fifth shutout, striking out nine while only allowing one baserunner to advance past second base. Cahalan's three RBIs on the double ties her career high and marks the second time this season she has drove in three. Kendal Clark had her third multi-hit game of the year, going 2-for-2 including the RBI single.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"I thought Kayla Beaver pitched great, except for that last inning where we gave them a glimmer of hope. We need to clean that up. Kenleigh Cahalan had one of her biggest hits of the season with that bases-loaded double. Bailey Dowling got the triple and then Kendal Clark rips one to left to bring her home. We worked on timely hitting all week in practice and that's what we did today."

Highlights

Alabama is now 66-7 all-time vs. Ole Miss, 34-2 in Tuscaloosa
The Tide is 23-2 this season when scoring first and 26-0 when leading after the fourth inning
Today's shutout was Alabama's 11th of the season, its second in SEC play
Kayla Beaver threw her ninth complete game and her fifth shutout
Kenleigh Cahalan's three RBIs ties her career high, hitting the mark three times before today
Over her last 13 games, Cahalan is 14-for-38 (.368) with 13 RBIs, five doubles, two triples and a home run
Kendal Clark went 2-for-2, marking her third multi-hit game of the season
Bailey Dowling's second inning triple was the second of her career, last doing so vs. Evansville on Feb. 18, 2022
Abby Duchscherer's fifth-inning single broke a 19 at-bat hitless streak for the sophomore
Friday marked just the second game this season Kristen White has batted leadoff, last doing so on Feb. 23 vs. Western Carolina

Scoring Summary

B2 | Kendal Clark drove in Bailey Dowling with an RBI single to left (1-0, 1 Out)
B5 | Kenleigh Cahalan unloaded the bases with a double in the gap (4-0, 2 Out)

Up Next: vs. Ole Miss (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Saturday, April 6 – 5 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 7 - 1:30 p.m. CT

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