Alabama baseball defeats Arkansas to snap its five-game losing streak.
Alabama baseball's defense shined Saturday, defeating No. 1 Arkansas 4-3, snapping a five-game losing streak and tying the series at one apiece.
The No. 17 Crimson Tide (23-12, 5-8 SEC) got spectacular play from its No. 2 starting pitcher Greg Farone. He pitched five innings with three strikeouts and one run allowed. Freshman Tyler Fay also looked great coming out of the bullpen, pitching three innings with three strikeouts and one run allowed.
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One of Alabama's biggest issues during the losing streak was the inability to score early, but that changed Saturday when first baseman Will Hodo and third baseman Gage Miller were able to hit home runs in consecutive innings — giving the Crimson Tide a 2-0 lead in the third inning. After that, however, Alabama's offense was unable to score again until the eighth, which gave the Razorbacks an opportunity to get back in the game.
Arkansas responded with a pair of solo home runs of their own, in the fifth and sixth innings, to tie the game at 2-2. Alabama outfielder TJ McCants answered the call in the bottom of the eighth inning with an RBI double to right field that gave Alabama the 3-2 lead.
The Razorbacks responded, once again, with a two-out home run in the top of the ninth off Alabama closer Alton Davis II to tie the game at 3-3. The Crimson Tide walked it off in the 10th following an error from the Razorbacks pitcher on an at-bat from TJ McCants — which drove in pinch runner Mason Swinney home to win the game for Alabama.
Alabama and Arkansas will meet in the series clinching game at 1 p.m. Sunday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball defeats Arkansas to tie the series at one.
