Wednesday, May 8
Auburn, Ala.
10 a.m. CT
Alabama
vs
LSU
Softball Opens SEC Tournament Play Wednesday vs. LSU
5/7/2024 11:29:00 AM | Softball
The Tide and Tigers open Wednesday’s slate at 10 a.m. CT on the SEC Network
AUBURN, Ala. – Alabama softball begins postseason play this week at the 2024 SEC Softball Tournament at Auburn's Jane B. Moore Field, beginning Wednesday, May 8 against LSU at 10 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.
This Week: 2024 SEC Softball Tournament (Auburn, Ala.)
- Alabama (33-16, 10-14 SEC) vs. LSU (38-14, 12-12 SEC)
- Wednesday, May 8 – 10 a.m. CT
- TV: SEC Network
- Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network at 97.5 FM in Tuscaloosa | nick975.com | Varsity App
Scouting Alabama
- Alabama begins postseason play this week at the 2024 SEC Softball Tournament, opening play Wednesday, May 8 at 10 a.m. CT against LSU on the SEC Network
- The Crimson Tide owns a 46-28 (.622) all-time record at the SEC Tournament, including titles in 1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012 and 2021
- Alabama concluded the regular season at 33-16 (10-14 SEC) after a 2-1 series loss on the road at Auburn
- Tide pitching has allowed the fewest extra-base hits of any SEC team (51) and is second in earned runs allowed (96) and third in ERA (2.06)
- 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)
Alabama at the SEC Tournament
- Alabama owns a 46-28 (.622) all-time record at the SEC Tournament, including a 42-25 (.627) mark under head coach Patrick Murphy
- The Crimson Tide has won an SEC-record six tournament titles, doing so in 1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012 and 2021
- Alabama's 46 SEC Tournament wins is the most of any SEC team, one ahead of LSU with 45
- Tide players have taken home 44 SEC All-Tournament accolades, including Tournament MVP honors for Stephanie VanBrakle (2005), Kelsi Dunne (2010), Jackie Traina (2012) and Montana Fouts (2021)
Last Time Out: at Auburn
- Alabama dropped two of its three games last weekend at Auburn to conclude the regular season, winning an 11-inning battle, 2-0, in game two in between a 4-3 loss in game one and a 3-0 loss in game three
- The 11-inning win in game two was the longest game ever between the Tide and Tigers and was Alabama's longest since an 11-inning win at Texas last season (March 11, 2023)
- Kenleigh Cahalan hit the go-ahead two run single in the 11th inning of game two, part of a 3-for-6 day at the plate that tied her career high for hits and marked her team-leading 10th multi-hit game of the season
- Kali Heivilin was 3-for-7 (.429) on the weekend, including a two-run home run in game one
Turning Two
- Alabama has turned 18 double plays this season, which is one 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
Triple Threat
- Kenleigh Cahalan hit her fourth triple of the season in game three against Tennessee, which leads the team and is tied for second in the SEC
- The last Alabama player with four triples in a season was Sydney Booker in 2018
- Only six players have hit five or more in a season, with Haylie McCleney as the last to do so with five in 2016
- Kelly Kretschman and Carrie Moreman both hold the UA single-season record, hitting seven each during the 1998 season
Wearing It
- Jenna Johnson's 14 HBP this season is tied for fourth in single-season history at Alabama
- She is one of five players to be plunked at least 14 times, with Johnson's as the most since Danae Hays' 15 in 2014
- Amanda Locke holds the single-season record of 16 set in 2010
Tide Trends
- Alabama is 28-2 this season when scoring first and 14-0 when scoring in the first inning
- The Crimson Tide is 26-0 when leading after 5.0 innings but is 2-13 when tied or trailing
- Alabama has scored its most runs in the fifth inning (36), followed closely by the fourth (35) and first (34) innings
- Tide pitching has only allowed two or more home runs in three games this season
- Kenleigh Cahalan leads the team with 10 multi-hit games this season, followed by Abby Duchscherer and Jenna Johnson with eight
Nothing Extra
- Alabama pitching has only allowed 51 extra base hits this season, the fewest of any SEC team
- The Tide lead the league in doubles (30) and triples allowed (1) and is second in home runs allowed (20)
Extra Base Hits Allowed (through Sunday, May 5)
- Alabama - 51
- Tennessee - 58
- Arkansas - 66
- Texas A&M - 69
- LSU -74
- South Carolina - 77
- Florida - 80
- Mississippi State - 82
- Ole Miss - 85
- Auburn - 89
- Georgia - 91
- Kentucky - 101
- Missouri - 101
Kayla Beaver Ranked No. 9 in Latest Softball America Player Position Rankings
- Softball America released its updated player position rankings this week, with Kayla Beaver at No. 9 on its pitchers list
- Beaver is 16-8 with three saves over 31 appearances this season, including 13 complete games and seven solo shutouts while striking out 156 batters over 155.1 innings pitched
Alabama in the SEC Rankings (Top 5)
- Doubles Allowed - 1st - 30
- Runs Allowed - 2nd - 131
- Earned Runs Allowed - 2nd - 96
- Home Runs Allowed - 2nd - 20
- ERA - 3rd - 2.06
- Hit By Pitch - 3rd - 50
- Runners Caught Stealing - T3rd - 11
- Opposing Batting Avg - 4th - .215
- Hits Allowed - 4th - 262
- Walks Allowed - 5th - 116
Alabama in SEC Play
- Alabama is 512-211 (.708) all-time in SEC play, including a 477-190 (.715) 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)
- 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 728-143 (.836) all-time record at home, including a 692-127 (.845) mark under Head Coach Patrick Murphy (1999-pres.) and a 673-123 (.845) 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: NCAA Regionals
- Dates, Times and Opponents TBD
- NCAA Selection Show: Sunday, May 12 - 6 p.m. CT - ESPN2
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballNCAA Super Regional GM 2 Postgame: Coach Murphy
Saturday, May 24
NCAA Super Regional GM 1 Postgame: Coach Murphy & Kali Heivilin
Friday, May 23
NCAA Super Regional Preview: Patrick Murphy, Jocelyn Briski & Audrey Vandagriff
Thursday, May 22
NCAA Super Regional Preview: Patrick Murphy
Wednesday, May 21
