Kayla Beaver Flirts With Second No-Hitter, Alabama Caps Perfect Weekend at Buzz City Classic
After dominating Longwood with a 13-0 run-rule victory and securing a 3-1 win against Georgia Tech on Friday, the Alabama softball team aimed to replicate their success in Saturday's doubleheader at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta. Facing both Longwood and Georgia Tech once again, the Crimson Tide showcased their national prowess.
In the opening game, Abby Duchscherer made an immediate impact, launching a powerful two-run home run over the left-center field fence in the top of the first inning that brought Kenleigh Cahalan across the plate, giving Alabama the 2-0 lead early. Not to be outdone, second baseman Kali Heivilin stepped up to the plate and delivered a clutch single to center field moments later, driving in Bailey Dowling and extending the Crimson Tide's lead to 3-0.
Duchscherer continued to shine in the second inning, hitting a thunderous double to left center that brought in Cahalan and Jenna Johnson, widening the lead to a commanding 5-0.
In the bottom of the second, Alabama pitcher Alea Johnson ran into some trouble, allowing a bases loaded single from Longwood infielder Sophia Knock that scored a run. Johnson was pulled shortly afterwards for Jocelyn Briski, finishing the day with a final line of 2.1 innings pitched while allowing three hits and an earned run.
Not long after, Briski ran into a jam of her own, allowing a run in the the bottom of the third on a wild pitch, with the runner being inherited from Johnson, as the Lancers cut the Crimson Tide lead to three.
In the top of the sixth inning, Dowling hit a well-placed single to left field to score Johnson, giving Alabama the 6-2 advantage.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Crimson Tide had the bases loaded, but could only muster a single run courtesy of a Cahalan walk, making the score 7-2 in favor of Patrick Murphy's squad.
Briski closed out the game impressively, striking out the final two Longwood batters, finishing with a final line of 4.2 innings pitched, zero hits, and seven strikeouts.
In the second game against Georgia Tech, Cahalan continued her stellar performance, driving a single down the right-field line to score Lauren Johnson and give Alabama a 1-0 advantage. Lauren Esman added to the lead in the fourth inning with a powerful double to center field, making it 2-0.
The top of the seventh inning proved pivotal, as a bases-loaded wild pitch from Georgia Tech pitcher Jaidyn Studebaker allowed Jenna Johnson to score, giving Alabama pitcher Kayla Beaver a 3-0 cushion. It wasn't long before Esman delivered another single up the middle, scoring Dowling and Cahalan, before being thrown out at second base to end the inning.
Beaver, a fifth-year senior transfer from Central Arkansas, pitched a stellar seven innings, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning before conceding a hit to Georgia Tech's Reese Hunter. Her remarkable performance included allowing just three hits, one run while striking out seven Yellow Jacket batters, helping secure the 5-1 win for the Crimson Tide.
After a flawless weekend, Alabama remains undefeated at 5-0 for the season, setting their sights on the Easton Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa starting on Feb. 16.
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