The series rubber match is set for a 6 p.m. CT first pitch Monday on the SEC Network
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | Alabama softball had the bases loaded with nobody out trailing by two in the seventh inning Sunday night against Arkansas but a trio of strikeouts ended the comeback attempt as the Crimson Tide fell to the Razorbacks, 5-3, to even the weekend series.
Alabama (22-7, 1-1 SEC) threatened immediately against Arkansas (21-8, 2-3 SEC), loading the bases with one out in the first inning but could not push a run across. The Razorbacks responded in the next half-inning with an RBI double and a two-run single to take the early 3-0 lead. Arkansas loaded the bases with one out in the third but Lauren Esman, pitching in relief, got out of the jam unscathed to keep it a three-run game. The Crimson Tide got on the board in the bottom of the third with a pair of RBI singles to draw within a run, but Arkansas capitalized on a pair of Alabama errors in the fifth to score a pair and move back ahead by three. The score remained at 5-3 heading to the bottom of the seventh and Alabama looked to start a late rally, loading the bases with nobody out. A single from Emma Broadfoot moved everyone up 60 feet and made it a two-run game but three-straight strikeouts extinguished any comeback attempt.
Ashley Prange was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, tying her career high for hits. Bailey Dowling was 2-for-2 from the cleanup spot, including a double for the second-straight game.