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Duchscherer, Beaver shine against No. 15 Arizona, No. 10 Alabama earns first marquee win of the season

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby: Brady Vernon03/02/24BradyVernon
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Courtesy of Alabama Athletics

Abby Duchscherer and Aissa Silva are both enjoying breakout seasons this year. As the two sophomores met for the first time in Tuscaloosa, only one added another highlight to their road to stardom.

Silva had back-to-back three-ball counts to the Tide’s first two batters with one resulting in a walk to Jenna Johnson – which happened after an illegal pitch was called on what was an out on a bunt attempt. It was evident early that Silva didn’t have her best stuff in the wet Rhoads Stadium. Silva went to her go-to curveball in the first pitch of the at-bat against Duchscherer, who jumped on it as it didn’t break enough on her hands, lifting it out for a two-run home run.

Duchscherer’s fifth home run of the season was enough behind the pitching efforts of Kayla Beaver and Alea Johnson. Alabama closed out its biggest test of the season thus far with a 2-1 win over the Wildcats.

Outside of its two contests against Arkansas, Arizona had scored at least five runs in every game. Beaver’s hard dropball proved to be difficult for the Wildcat hitters to barrel up. The Central Arkansas transfer induced 12 groundouts in the win, relying on her defense in the big moments.

Arizona did cut the lead in half as freshman catcher Emily Schepp did a tremendous job on a screwball from Beaver, timing it up perfectly to get around the inside pitch for a solo home run in the second inning.

The Wildcats threatened again after Taylor Biehl led off with a double and moved over to third on a grounder. That brought up the quick Regan Shockey, who was going to make it tough on the defense to not surrender the run. Shockey slapped the ball up to short and Kenleigh Cahalan played it perfectly to ensure Biehl stayed at third and get the out at first. Beaver rolled the final out of the inning to get out of the jam.

Olivia DiNardo was also a thorn in Beaver’s side. The lefty had a nine-pitch at-bat in the second inning that resulted in a groundout. She roped a ball in the fourth off the wall but was hit too hard, holding her to a single. Then she worked a 13-pitch walk to put two runners on with two outs in the sixth, but Beaver escaped that as well.

Alabama decided to go to Johnson for the save. The LSU transfer’s best pitch is her changeup. She threw it three straight times against Schepp to get her looking and undoubtedly showed quite a different look than Beaver. She then got Biehl to swing over the offspeed which was very impressive in her lone inning.

Then the drama ensured. Allie Skaggs reached second before Biehl’s strikeout on a ball that gave Larissa Preuitt trouble as she dropped it – it felt all night that right fielders had trouble tracking the ball through the haze – giving Arizona life. Paige Dimler grounded one to Kali Heivilin at second, she fumbled it and threw to first to narrowly get Dimler, at least that’s what first base umpire Tom Meyer thought.

Arizona challenged the call – I personally thought she was safe as the play developed, the replay look appeared to be safe with enough evidence to overturn – but it was to no avail as the call was held and ended the game instead of continuing as Skaggs was headed home to tie the game.

It’s very clear that Alabama’s pitching staff can be very well-rounded. Beaver’s hard down stuff prevents teams such as Arizona to hit a ton of home runs. Teams will struggle to adjust to the softer Johnson as apparent Friday, especially with that changeup. Jaala Torrence’s spiny approach factors in another element. While freshman Jocelyn Briski is day-to-day with an injury, she can throw straight gas. After graduating the great Montana Fouts, the Tide’s pitching is in a healthy place.

The Tide did need a bat to step up as Duchscherer has done so far. After only having nine hits as a freshman, five homers through the first of March seems decent.

Arizona’s offense had a tough night. However, it’s hard not to enjoy Miranda Stoddard’s return. After taking last year to be away from softball, the Kentucky transfer had jumped right into a huge role for the Wildcats.

Similar to Beaver, Stoddard primarily throws a dropball. She relieved Silva after she walked the bases loaded in the first and proceeded to pick up a strikeout and a comebacker to limit the damage.

Duchscherer opened the third with a single, Stoddard walked a pair to load the bases again. For the second time, she got Kendal Clark to ground out to end the threat.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. Silva seems positioned to get the ball again after her short outing and the Wildcats have a shorthanded staff.

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