Alabama Softball: Tide must rally to stay in hunt for SEC crown

Going into the second to last SEC regular-season series, Alabama Softball appeared poised to overtake the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas led the SEC with an 11-4 record, with the Crimson Tide sitting at No. 2 from a 13-5 SEC record.

Complete SEC Softball standings are available here.

Like the Crimson Tide, the Razorbacks have a road SEC series this weekend. The Hogs traveled to Gainesville for three games against SEC No. 4 Florida. Alabama had the far easier task of taking on the 3-12 Texas A&M Aggies in College Station.

On Friday night, Arkansas beat the Gators 9-1, while the Aggies surprised themselves and the Crimson Tide with a 6-4, Texas A&M victory.

The best pitcher in the SEC and possibly in the nation, Montana Fouts too frequently got behind Aggie batters. Fouts struck out 11 Aggies, but she allowed six hits and three walks. Two of the six A&M runs were the result of a Crimson Tide fielding error.

The Friday results put Arkansas at No. 1 in the SEC at 12-4 and the Crimson Tide at 13-6. The Crimson Tide has five regular-season SEC games left. After Saturday night and Sunday afternoon games in College Station, the Tide closes its SEC regular season with three home games against the Missouri Tigers. Missouri is 5-9 in SEC play.

The Razorbacks have Saturday and Sunday games in Gainesville, followed by two more three-game SEC series; South Carolina in Fayetteville and Texas A&M in College Station. The Aggies and the Gamecocks have combined for just six SEC wins this season.

Alabama Softball needs help for a regular-season SEC Championship

Unless the Florida Gators can take down the Hogs at least once on Saturday or Sunday, the Crimson Tide’s chances for a regular-season SEC Championship are not good. Arkansas is capable of sweeping both South Carolina and Texas A&M.

Alabama Softball has been the regular-season SEC Champion six times, Only Florida exceeds that number with nine championships. The Alabama Crimson Tide won in 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2019. The Crimson Tide leads the SEC in Tournament Championships with six; in 1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012 and 2021.

The 2022 SEC Softball Tournament begins May 10 in Gainesville. The format is single-elimination with the teams seeded by their SEC regular-season winning percentage.

Saturday’s game with the Aggies will be available on the SEC Network with a 6:00 PM CST start in College Station, TX.