KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Alabama softball team saw a 2-0 lead erased in the bottom of the sixth and a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh gave Tennessee the 3-2 comeback victory on Saturday night.
Alabama (36-8, 10- 6 SEC) plated its only runs in the top of the fourth on a two-run triple by Sydney Booker, but a pair of strong offensive innings by Tennessee (38-5, 10-3 SEC) in the sixth and seventh gave the Volunteers its 17th-straight win and break a three-game winning streak by the Tide over Tennessee.
Alexis Osorio (18-5) threw 146 pitches over six innings, taking the loss with three earned runs allowed on five hits. Caylan Arnold (17-4) went the distance in the complete-game win for Tennessee.
In the top of the third, an error and bloop single put two runners on for Alabama and Mari Cranek laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the pair into scoring position as it turned back to the top of the order with one out. A popup and strikeout would end the half-inning as the Tide could not scratch a run across in the half-inning. Alabama had two on base again in the top of the fourth after a walk to Reagan Dykes and base hit by Bailey Hemphill with two outs. Booker then lifted a fly ball deep into left field and the Tennessee outfielder couldn’t track it down as it fell at the warning track for a triple, scoring two to put Alabama up 2-0.
Game two of the series is set for a 6 p.m. CT start on Sunday, April 16 in Knoxville. The game will air live on SEC Network.
