No. 11 Alabama Defeats Southern Indiana 2-0, Sweeps Easton Bama Bash
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Ten games, ten wins.
Less than a year after their somewhat unexpected 2023 Women’s College World Series run, No. 11 Alabama Softball is picking right up where it left off, getting off to a 10-0 start in 2024 and capping off a perfect performance at the Easton Bama Bash with a 2-0 defeat of Southern Indiana on Sunday.
Starting in the circle for the Crimson Tide was senior Lauren Esman, who also batted in the No. 2 spot in Patrick Murphy’s lineup. Her day didn’t last long, however, as Esman exited after 13 pitches and 0.2 innings, being replaced by Riley Valentine in the lineup.
Coming in relief of Esman was Alea Johnson, who tossed 5.1 innings of three hit, six strikeout ball, shutting down the Screaming Eagles’ offense.
It wasn’t a banner day for Alabama at the plate, as the Crimson Tide bats only mustered two hits. In the first inning, a bases loaded walk and a Marlie Giles sacrifice fly became the only two runs of the game, as Southern Indiana's Josie Newman tossed 6.0 innings of two hit, two run, three strikeout ball.
"We needed to lay off the rise ball," Murphy said. "See the ball down. Kali Heivilin made great adjustments. A line drive to left, a line drive smoked to third base, both made great plays, we just didn't have enough of that consistently one through nine."
Closing the game out for Alabama was Kayla Beaver, who notched her second save of the season – striking out the final batter of the day after securing a double-play moments before.
After the game, Murphy also provided an injury update on outfielder Jenna Johnson and pitcher Jocelyn Briski.
"[Jenna Johnson] probably could've played today. But it was a day where it's Kat [Grill's] day. So she probably could've played. [Jocelyn] Briski, it's going to be day-to-day. I think she threw a rise ball and felt a tug there. I think she'll be okay."
With the win, Murphy and company will now turn their attention towards a matchup with North Alabama at home on Feb. 21.
Live Updates:
(most recent at the top)
Final: No. 11 Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Final stats courtesy of StaBroadcast.com
Top Seventh - USI Batting:
- Kihega strikes out swinging. Alabama wins. E7: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
- Fair hits into a double play. Two down. Rhoads is rocking.
- Gothsall singles up the middle.
- Kayla Beaver coming in to close this one out.
Bottom Sixth - Alabama Batting:
- Clark strikes out swinging. Inning concludes.
- Cahalan flies out to center. Two down for Kendal Clark.
- Heivilin lines out to third. One out.
M6: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Top Sixth - USI Batting:
- Long strikes out swinging. Inning concludes.
- Bedrick grounds out to second.
- Stapleton grounds out.
- Through 4.1 innings pitched, Johnson has allowed two hits and struck out five.
E5: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Bottom Fifth - Alabama Batting:
- Duchscherer pops out to the shortstop. Inning concludes.
- Valentine strikes out looking. Two down for Abby Duchscherer.
- Johnson flies out to left. One out.
- Lauren Johnson coming to the plate for Alabama.
M5: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Top Fifth - USI Batting:
- Effinger strikes out swinging. Inning concludes.
- Nalley strikes out swinging. Two outs.
- Satkoski grounds out for the first out of the inning.
E4: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Bottom Fourth - Alabama Batting:
- Grill flies out to center. Inning concludes.
- Preuitt grounds out to second. Two outs.
- Dowling grounds out to short. Her struggles continue.
- Dowling coming up for the Crimson Tide. Outside of yesterday's home run, she's sputtering as of late, batting .240.
M4: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Top Fourth - USI Batting:
- Kihega grounds out to third base. Inning concludes.
- Fair strikes out swinging.
- Gotshall flies out to right for the first out of the inning.
- 3-4-5 hitters coming up for the Screaming Eagles. They'll be looking to get something going against Johnson, who hasn't looked particularly sharp.
E3: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Bottom Third - Alabama Batting:
- Giles flies out to left. Inning over.
- Cahalan squeaks one by the second baseman. One on, two outs now for Marlie Giles.
- Heivilin shoots a rocket to left field, but it's caught. Two down for Kenleigh Cahalan.
- Duschererer flies out to left field. One down for Kali Heivilin.
- Duchscherer coming up for Alabama. She's batting .433 through nine games so far in 2024.
M3: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Top Third - USI Batting:
- Johnson strikes out long. That's her second of the day. Inning concludes.
- Bedrick flies out to center field for the second out of the inning. One on, two outs for Sydney Long.
- Stapleton singles through the right side. One on, one out for Bedrick at the top of the order.
- Effinger flies out to left. One out now for Caroline Stapleton.
- Carlee Effinger coming up for the Screaming Eagles. She's batting .000 through three games played.
E2: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Bottom Second - Alabama Batting:
- Valentine strikes out looking. Inning over.
- Johnson pops out to the shortstop. One on, two outs for Riley Valentine.
- Grill drills a single to left. One on, one out for Lauren Johnson.
- Preuitt's bunt is unsuccessful. One out now for Kat Grill.
M2: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Top Second - USI Batting:
- Nalley pops out to Cahalan at short. Three outs.
- Satkoski goes down swinging. First strikeout of the game for Johnson.
- First hit of the game for the Screaming Eagles as Kihega singles to left field. One on, one out for Satkoski.
- Fair flies out to Lauren Johnson in center for the first out of the inning.
E1: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
Bottom First - Alabama:
- Dowling flied out to left field. Inning concludes.
- Giles flies out to center. Valentine scores. Heivilin and Cahalan advance. B1: Alabama 2, Southern Indiana 0.
- Cahalan walks. Alabama strikes first. B1: Alabama 1, Southern Indiana 0.
- Heivilin walks. Bases loaded now with one out for Kenleigh Cahalan.
- Duchscherer flies out to center field.
- Valentine walks. Runners on first and second now for Duchscherer with nobody out.
- Johnson steals second base.
- Johnson walks to start the game for Alabama. Riley Valentine substitutes in for Esman's spot in the lineup.
- Lauren Johnson will look to get things going here at the top of the order. She's batting .500 through nine games, and has an SEC Freshman of the Week nomination to her name.
M1: Alabama 0, Southern Indiana 0.
Top First - USI Batting:
- Gothshall lines out to third base. Three outs.
- Esman checks out of the game. Alea Johnson warming up.
- Circle visit now for Esman. She appears to be shaken up.
- Long flies out to Preuitt in right field. Two outs now for Hailey Gotshall.
- Bedrick grounds out to the pitcher for the first out of the game.
Pregame:
- We're 15 minutes from first pitch here at Rhoads Stadium.
- First pitch vs. Southern Indiana is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT.
Starting Lineup:
Lineup courtesy of StatBroadcast.com
Pregame Notes:
- Alabama has scored first every game so far this year, doing so five times in the first inning
- The 8-0 win in five innings over St. Thomas marked the Tide’s second run-rule victory of the season and its third shutout
- Larissa Preuitt went 2-for-3 with two RBIs against St. Thomas, marking her ninth career multi-hit game and fifth multi-RBI game
- Abby Duchscherer’s career-long hitting streak came to an end at eight games
- Jaala Torrence earned her seventh career solo shutout in the complete-game win over St. Thomas
- Kayla Beaver threw 2.1 shutout innings in relief against Virginia, earning her eighth career save and first with the Crimson Tide
(courtesy of Alabama Athletics)
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