Kayla Beaver Shuts Out Northern Iowa to Open Crimson Classic
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With temperatures hovering in the 40s, Alabama’s bats were almost as cold as the weather. But the offense didn't have to provide much with Kayla Beaver in the circle for the Crimson Tide.
Northern Iowa starting pitcher Samantha Heyer really struggled to find the strike zone in the first inning. She walked two and allowed a single to Abby Duchscherer, which gave Alabama the bases loaded with one out.
Bailey Dowling drove in the Crimson Tide’s lone run on the night with an RBI groundout in the first inning. It turned out that would be enough for No. 11 Alabama.
Beaver threw her third complete game shutout of the season for a 1-0 victory over Northern Iowa at Rhoads Stadium Thursday night to open play at the Crimson Classic.
"Who would've looked back and said, 'Oh, a ground ball to second base is the winning run,' but sometimes that's how it happens," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said after the game.
The Panthers made her work for it with tough at-bats all night long, but Beaver came out on top, allowing just four hits and finishing with nine strikeouts on 117 pitches. With the outing, Beaver’s ERA drops to 0.43.
Beaver said working with lower run support sometimes makes her pitch better because she has to have more focus.
"Honestly it's a trust thing you know," Beaver said after the game. "Even though it was a 1-0 win, I knew that we were gonna get that done... Defense was on lock, and we put it together whenever it was needed."
Alabama finished with just four hits on offense, all singles. The Crimson Tide didn't get a runner in scoring position after the second inning. However, Northern Iowa is a solid mid-major and the Panthers' starting pitcher has an ERA below one. She only allowed one run against Auburn last week.
While the offense struggled, the defense made several key plays. In the first inning, Emma Broadfoot threw out a runner at home on a groundball to first, and that ended up being the difference in the game. Beaver also made several nice defensive plays in the circle.
"I was just very impressed with everything out there," Murphy said. "It was a good win for us."
Weather permitting, Alabama will be back at Rhoads Stadium on Friday for a doubleheader against South Alabama and No. 21 Arizona beginning at 4 p.m.
How it happened...
FINAL: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Top 7
- Ground ball ends it. Alabama wins.
- Strikeout goes for out No. 2.
- Deep fly ball to center field for the first out.
END 6: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Bottom 6
- Broadfoot pops up, and Heivilin is caught stealing on an absolute laser from the UNI catcher. Side retired.
- Heivilin singles through the right side with one out.
- Dowling, Heivilin and Broadfoot due up for Alabama.
MID 6: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Top 6
- UNI makes Beaver work for it that inning with three straight long at-bats, but she once again keeps the Panthers off the board.
- The runner at first leaves early for the second out. And after a lengthy battle at the plate, Lappe strikes out.
- A strikeout goes for the first out.
- Beaver gives up a leadoff walk.
- Defensive change in between innings: Lauren Johnson enters in left field for Jenna Johnson.
END 5: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Bottom 5
- A popup and strikeout end the half inning. Alabama offense still can't get anything going.
- Cahalan strikes out, but reaches first base on a dropped third strike.
- Top of the lineup due up for the Crimson Tide. Let's see if they can get on the board for the first time since the first inning.
MID 5: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Top 5
- Groundball gets the final out.
- Lance McMahon takes a timeout in the circle with Beaver and Giles.
- Fielder's choice to Broadfoot gets the lead runner. Two outs.
- One-out single to right field brings up the top of the lineup.
END 4: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Bottom 4
- Alabama goes down in order in the fourth. Uninspiring offensive performance so far.
- Broadfoot, Preuitt and White due up for Alabama.
MID 4: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Top 4
- 1-2-3 inning for Beaver. She adds two more strikeouts.
END 3: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Bottom 3
- Heivilin flies out to left field on the first pitch. Murphy doesn't seem particularly pleased with the at-bats so far.
- After two popups, Dowling singles through the right side.
- Duchscherer, Giles and Dowling due up for Alabama in the third.
MID 3: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Top 3
- Beaver's fourth strikeout strands the runners.
- Bloop single into left field puts runners on first and second with two outs.
- HBP gives the Panthers a two-out baserunner.
- Beaver opens the third with her third strikeout.
END 2: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Bottom 2
- Cahalan strikes out swinging to leave two Crimson Tide runners on base for the second straight inning.
- Johnson is hit by a pitch. Alabama has runners on first and second with two outs.
- Two-out infield single for Kristen White.
- Bottom of the order due up for the Crimson Tide in the second.
MID 2: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Top 2
- A groundout and lineout retire the side.
- Nice play by Beaver in the circle to record the first out.
END 1: Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
Bottom 1- Alabama batting
- Alabama does score one run in the inning, but Patrick Murphy has to feel like his team missed out on more.
- Heivilin chases a rise ball to strikeout, stranding two runners in scoring position.
- Runners on second and third with two outs for Heivilin.
- Dowling brings one run home on an RBI-groundout to the right side. Alabama 1, Northern Iowa 0
- Giles draws a walk to load the bases with one out.
- Duchscherer lines one up the middle for a one-out single. Alabama has runners on first and second. M'Kay Gidley, on her senior day, comes in to run for Duchscherer.
- Leadoff walk for Johnson on four pitches.
MID 1: Alabama 0, Northern Iowa 0
Top 1- UNI batting
- A swinging strikeout gets Beaver out of the jam, stranding two baserunners.
- The runner at third goes home on a ground ball to first base. Emma Broadfoot makes a good throw to the plate to eliminate the lead runner and keep UNI off the scoreboard. Two outs.
- Perfectly placed bunt to third leads to an infield single and puts runners on the corners with one out.
- Single through the right side give the Panthers their first baserunner and a passed ball moves the runner into scoring position with one out.
- Beaver opens the game with her 48th strikeout of the season.
- The first pitch from Beaver is a ball, and this game is underway.
Starting lineups:
Pregame
- Today is M'Kay Gidley's senior day.
- This is definitely the coldest game I've been to at Rhoads Stadium this season, and hopefully this is the last weekend of cold games. I don't expect a huge crowd turnout because of this weather.
- Alabama is rocking the anthracite uniforms tonight.
Pre-game notes
courtesy of Alabama Athletics
- The Crimson Tide is 16-0 heading into its fourth week of play, coming off a 5-0 slate at last weekend's Green & Gold Classic in Birmingham
- For her performance last week, fifth-year senior outfielder Jenna Johnson was named the SEC Softball Co-Player of the Week
- Alabama has scored first in 14 of its 16 wins, doing so nine times in the first inning
- The Tide is ranked as high as No. 10 in this week's national polls
- 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)
