TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – On the final day of the Easton Bama Bash, the Alabama Crimson Tide shut out the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles by a final score of 2-0. With this win, Alabama improved to a perfect 10-0 on the young season.
Alabama got on the board early in the first inning with some help from the Screaming Eagles’ pitching staff. Starting pitcher Josie Newman walked four batters in the inning, bringing home the first Alabama run.
Later in the inning, catcher Marlie Giles hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring freshman Lauren Johnson who hit leadoff for the first time in her collegiate career.
“Lauren is fearless, there is no moment that is too big for her. She already plays like a four-year veteran and we often forget that she is just a freshman,” said Alabama Head Coach Patrick Murphy.
The two-run first inning ended up being the game’s final tally.
Lauren Esman got the start for the Tide in this one, but she only faced two batters. Alea Johnson came in behind Esman, and she turned in her best performance of the year. Johnson secured the win and retired 11 of the last 12 batters she faced. Johnson’s final line: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K.
After a leadoff single to open the 7th, Alabama turned to Kayla Beaver to collect the save for a second straight game. Beaver’s first pitch of the day induced a 4-3 double play and she followed that up with a six-pitch strikeout. This performance secured the fourth shutout of the season so far for the Crimson Tide pitching staff.
“Anytime you can get a shutout in Division 1 softball, you have accomplished a great feat. We had hoped to get the offense going in this one but you don’t need to when you have excellent arms,” said coach Murphy.
Offensively, Alabama was very quiet, only collecting two hits. Kenleigh Cahalan and Kat Grill were the only Crimson Tide players to do so.
Southern Indiana was only able to muster up three hits in the game, with all of them coming in different innings.
NEXT: Alabama will face off against North Alabama on Wednesday at home with the first pitch slated for 3:00 pm.