Softball Travels to Birmingham Tuesday to Face Samford

Tuesday, April 9

Birmingham, Ala.

5 p.m. CT

Alabama

Samford

Softball Travels to Birmingham Tuesday to Face Samford

4/8/2024 2:41:00 PM | Softball

Game Notes (PDF)Live Stats Live Audio (97.5 FM)Live Video (ESPN+)

First pitch between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs is set for 5 p.m. CT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama makes the quick trip to Birmingham this week for its final non-conference game of the regular season, facing Samford on Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m. CT.

This Week: #14/15 Alabama (29-8) at Samford (12-25)

Tuesday, April 9 – 5 p.m. CT
Birmingham, Ala. – Samford Softball Stadium
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com | Varsity App

Scouting Alabama

Alabama plays its final non-conference game of the regular season this week, making the quick trip to Birmingham to face Samford on Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m. CT
The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs previously met earlier this season on March 19 in Tuscaloosa, with Alabama earning the 11-2 run rule win in five innings
The Tide heads into the week at 29-8 overall and 6-6 in SEC play following a series sweep against Ole Miss last weekend in Tuscaloosa
Tide pitching is second in the SEC in ERA (1.67) and earned runs allowed (58) and third in hits allowed (174), runs allowed (81) and home runs allowed (13)
Kenleigh Cahalan leads the SEC with 91 assists on defense and Kali Heivilin is tied for eighth with 69
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. Samford: 27-2
- In Tuscaloosa: 20-0 | In Birmingham: 7-2 | At Neutral Sites: 0-0
Current Streak: Alabama +27
Last Meeting: March 19, 2024 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - W, 11-2 (5)
Last Meeting in Birmingham: April 11, 2023 - W, 6-2

Last Time Out: vs. Ole Miss

Alabama earned its first SEC series win in sweeping fashion last weekend, taking all three games from Ole Miss at Rhoads Stadium
The Crimson Tide held the Rebels to just two runs all weekend, their lowest run total in an SEC series this season
Sunday's game was Alabama's 10th multi-home run game of the season, four of which have come in SEC play
Kayla Beaver went 2-0 over two starts in the circle, pitching 11.2 shutout innings with 16 strikeouts
Jocelyn Briski earned a complete-game win in game two, her first career SEC start, allowing just one unearned run
Bailey Dowling was 4-for-8 over the series, scoring twice and hitting a triple
Kendal Clark led the team with four RBIs, three of which came on a home run in Sunday's finale

Tide Trends

Alabama is 25-2 this season when scoring first and 14-0 when scoring in the first inning
The Crimson Tide is 28-0 when tied or leading after 4.0 innings
Over the last 15 games, Kenleigh Cahalan is hitting 16-for-45 (.356) with four runs scored, 12 RBIs, six doubles, two triples and a home run and is currently on a team-leading five game hit streak
Kendal Clark has reached base safely in eight straight games, with seven hits and five walks over that stretch
In SEC play, Kristen White is hitting 8-for-22 (.364) with four runs scored
Kayla Beaver owns a 1.26 ERA vs. ranked teams this season, allowing just eight earned runs over 44.1 innings with 32 strikeouts

Nothing Extra

Alabama pitching has only allowed 36 extra base hits this season, the second lowest total in the SEC only trailing Florida at 34
The Tide is second in the SEC in doubles (22) and triples (1) allowed and third in home runs (13) allowed

Extra Base Hits Allowed

Florida - 34
Alabama - 36
Tennessee - 38
Arkansas - 47
South Carolina - 50
LSU - 51
Texas A&M - 51
Georgia - 60
Mississippi State - 60
Ole Miss - 62
Auburn - 72
Kentucky - 75
Missouri - 76

Turning Two

Alabama has turned 15 double plays this season, which is four shy of cracking the single-season top 10
The Tide turned 19 double plays in 2022, its most since hitting the same mark in 2018
Alabama hasn't reached 20 or more double plays in a season since 2007

Kayla Beaver Ranked No. 6 in Latest Softball America Player Position Rankings

Softball America released its updated player position rankings at the beginning of April, with Kayla Beaver at No. 6 on its pitchers list
Beaver is 13-3 with three saves over 22 appearances this season, including nine complete games and five solo shutouts while striking out 118 batters over 109.0 innings pitched

Alabama in the SEC Rankings (Top 5)

Team

ERA - 2nd - 1.67
Earned Runs Allowed - 2nd - 58
Doubles Allowed - 2nd - 22
Hit By Pitch - 3rd - 42
Hits Allowed - 3rd - 174
Runs Allowed - 3rd - 81
Home Runs Allowed - 3rd - 13
Batters Struck Out - T3rd - 251
Opposing Batting Avg. - 4th - .196

Individual

Assists - Kenleigh Cahalan - T1st - 91
Games Started - Kayla Beaver - T3rd - 18
Hit by Pitch - Jenna Johnson - T5th - 11

Alabama in SEC Play

Alabama is 508-203 (.714) all-time in SEC play, including a 473-182 (.722) 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 726-139 (.839) all-time record at home, including a 690-123 (.849) mark under Head Coach Patrick Murphy (1999-pres.) and a 671-119 (.849) 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

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