Alabama Softball Wins Series Opener over Arkansas, 5-3

Friday, April 9

Fayetteville, Ark.

5 p.m. CT

Alabama

30-4, 0

Arkansas

32-4, 0

Alabama

Arkansas

Alabama Softball Wins Series Opener over Arkansas, 5-3

4/9/2021 8:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Crimson Tide hands the Razorbacks its first conference loss of the season

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

For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaSB on Twitter, BamaSB on Instagram and Alabama Softball on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.