re: Bama Softball 45-22 (16-11) (2022-23)

Alabama Punches Ticket to SEC Tournament Semifinals With 3-2 Extra-Inning Win Over Arkansas

The Crimson Tide will face either Tennessee or Florida Friday on ESPN2

It took nine innings to decide a winner between Alabama and Arkansas late Thursday night at Bogle Park, with a two-run double from Bailey Dowling ultimately pushing the Crimson Tide over the tournament host Razorbacks, 3-2, to send Alabama to the SEC Tournament semifinals.

With the win, Alabama (40-17) reached the 40-win mark for the 23rd time in program history, improving to a 63-14 all-time record against Arkansas (38-17) including a 6-1 record against the Razorbacks at the SEC Tournament.

With two on and nobody out in the top of the second, an Arkansas fielding error allowed Ally Shipman to score from second and put the first run on the board. Neither team scratched another run across until the bottom of the sixth, as a one-out single to center from Cylie Halvorson drove in the game-tying run for the Razorbacks. Arkansas had the bases loaded with two out in the bottom of the seventh, but a force out at third ended the inning and sent the game to extra innings.

In the top of the ninth, Larissa Preuitt and Ashley Prange stood at second and third with nobody out and Dowling at the plate. The junior fouled off four straight pitches before ripping a double down the third base line, driving in both runners to give Alabama the 3-1 lead. After two quick outs to start the bottom of the ninth, a walk kept the inning alive for the Razorbacks and a base hit that dropped between three fielders coupled with a throwing error allowed a run to score, making it a one-run game with the potential tying run now at third base. After an intentional walk, a groundout to short ended the rally and the game as the Tide held on to win, 3-2.

Jenna Johnson was 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot while Dowling was 2-for-5 to give her back-to-back multi-hit games at the tournament. Alex Salter (7-3) earned the win in relief after starter Montana Fouts exited with an injury in the bottom of the seventh.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"Again, I just want to say thanks for everyone at Arkansas for a true championship experience. It is so cool to see another SEC city embrace softball like Fayetteville has. I'm sure [Arkansas head coach] Courtney [Deifel] will say the same thing but it was a great atmosphere for college softball. The whole thing was made for a national TV audience.

"To have 40 wins against, what was going into tonight, the second-toughest schedule in the country is unbelievable to me. We did it with eight newbies, including five freshmen that all played a lot. We've been working towards resiliency, grit and determination. All those words encompass a really great athlete and I think you all saw it tonight."