By: Cian Loehr
After a 1-hour delay due to game crossover, Alabama softball opened the season with a 3-0 statement victory over Villanova in their first game of the Buzz Classic Tournament. Fifth-year senior pitcher Kayla Beaver tossed the 46th no-hitter in Alabama softball history.
In her first career appearance for the Crimson Tide, Central-Arkansas transfer Kayla Beaver threw 14 strikeouts to bring home the win.
“She has been a sponge all off-season. Our theme this year is to have a growth mindset, and she’s taken everything and run with it,” said Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy.
After losing star pitcher Montana Fouts this offseason, Alabama was looking for a starting pitcher to step up and be their ace. Beaver certainly made her case.
Opening Day jitters were not a thing for Alabama. It seems the coaching staff made that a point of emphasis. “Nobody has any stats on opening day, so I told them we get to start fresh. If we played every game like opening day, we’d have one heck of a year,” Murphy said.
Offensively, Alabama was able to give Beaver an early cushion with a 3-run second inning.
First baseman, Abby Duchscherer got the scoring started on a 2-RBI single. She was the only player in the game to record 2 hits. Later in the inning, second baseman Kali Heivilin drove in DP Riley Valentine from third after she was able to steal second and third off a wild pitch.
Outside of that second inning, there wasn’t much happening with the bats.
Villanova starting pitcher Caroline Pellicano was able to pitch the full game, having a great performance outside of the second inning.
Up Next
Alabama faces off against Longwood at 10 a.m. CT and tournament host Georgia Tech at 3 p.m., continuing the Buzz Classic.
