Alabama Softball Wins Series Opener over Arkansas, 5-3 - University of Alabama Athletics
Alabama softball handed Arkansas its first conference loss of the season, defeating the Razorbacks 5-3 Friday night at Bogle Park.
rolltide.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Alabama softball handed Arkansas its first conference loss of the season, defeating the Razorbacks 5-3 Friday night at Bogle Park.
Alabama (30-4, 10-3 SEC) took the early lead with a four-run third inning before Arkansas (32-4, 12-1 SEC) answered right back with three in the bottom half. A solo home run from Savannah Woodard in the top of the fourth made it 5-3, which ultimately proved final.
A two-run double from KB Sides plated the first two runs for the Crimson Tide before Bailey Hemphill crushed a two-run home run, her eighth of the season and 58th of her career. That ties her with Kaila Hunt and Charlotte Morgan for second all-time at Alabama and only two shy of Kelly Kretschman's school record.
In the circle, Montana Fouts (12-2) went the distance for her ninth complete-game victory of the season, fanning 12 batters. Mary Haff (18-3) took the loss for the Razorbacks.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Alabama is now 61-11 all-time vs. Arkansas, including a 24-8 mark on the road
- The loss was the first this season for the Razorbacks in conference play
- It was just the fifth time this season Arkansas did not hit a home run
- Alabama is 24-2 this season when scoring first, 6-2 in conference play
- It was the Tide's fifth game with two or more home runs, its fourth in SEC play
- Bailey Hemphill's home run ties her with Kaila Hunt and Charlotte Morgan at second in UA career history with 58, two shy of Kelly Kretschman's school record
- Hemphill extended her hitting streak to seven games
- KB Sides has reached base safely in 12 straight games
- The home run was the second this season for Savannah Woodard and the third of her career
- Elissa Brown went 3-for-3, marking her 11th multi-hit game which is tied for second most of anyone on the team
- It was Montana Fouts' seventh game this season with 10+ strikeouts, her second in SEC play
- The game was Fouts' ninth complete game of the season and fourth in conference play
SCORING SUMMARY
- T3 | KB Sides drove in a pair with a double in the gap (2-0, 1 Out)
- T3 | Bailey Hemphill followed up Sides' double with a two-run homer to left (4-0, 1 Out)
- B3 | An errant throw on a force out attempt brought an unearned run home for the Razorbacks (4-1, 2 Out)
- B3 | A single through the left side drove in a pair of runs (4-3, 2 Out)
- T4 | Savannah Woodard hit a two-out solo homer to straightaway center (5-3, 2 Out)
UP NEXT – ALABAMA AT ARKANSAS (FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.)
- Saturday, April 10 – 11 a.m. CT (ESPN2)
- Sunday, April 11 – 1 p.m. CT