Softball Secures Top 10 Series Win Over Arkansas with 4-1 Win Sunday

Sunday, March 15

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1:30 p.m. CT

Alabama

26-1, 5-1

Arkansas

23-4, 3-3

Arkansas

Alabama

Softball Secures Top 10 Series Win Over Arkansas with 4-1 Win Sunday

3/15/2026 5:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Jocelyn Briski strikes out 10 in her second complete-game win of the weekend

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - With the weekend series split heading into Sunday, No. 4 Alabama softball took the deciding game three over eighth-ranked Arkansas, 4-1, to clinch the series victory.

Alabama (26-1, 5-1 SEC) took the lead over Arkansas (23-4, 3-3 SEC) in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Marlie Giles. Later in the fourth inning, Giles reached on a fielding error which allowed Ana Roman to hustle home from third and make it 2-0. A fifth-inning RBI single from Alexis Pupillo made it 3-0, but the Razorbacks erased the shutout in the next half-inning with a leadoff home run from Ella McDowell. Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, freshman Ambrey Taylor added some insurance with a two out pinch-hit home run to make it 4-1. Jocelyn Briski (10-0) closed it out with a scoreless seventh, capping her second complete-game win of the weekend as the junior pitcher finished with 10 strikeouts.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy

"I first want to thank our fans. The crowd was awesome all weekend. We're lucky to have the greatest college softball fans in the country because they know the game. Secondly, I think we bounced back in a big way from yesterday. [Saturday] was uncharacteristic of us, but it's going to happen. We play a very long season. I thought the fight, grit and determination came a long way from yesterday."

Highlights

Alabama has won both of its SEC series so far in 2026, sweeping Ole Miss and taking two of three against Arkansas
The Crimson Tide is now 4-1 against top 10 teams this season with two wins over then-No. 6 Florida State and a 2-1 record against the eighth-ranked Razorbacks this weekend
Jocelyn Briski threw a career-high 123 pitches in the complete-game win, posting double-digit strikeouts for the second time this weekend and the third time this season
Alexis Pupillo's RBI single extended her reached-base streak to 23 games
Ambrey Taylor's home run was her second in a pinch-hit situation this season, previously doing so in game two of the Ole Miss series (March 6)

Scoring Summary

B2 | Marlie Giles drove in Salen Hawkins with an RBI single to left (1-0, 1 Out)
B4 | Ana Roman scored from third on a fielding error (2-0, 1 Out)
B5 | Alexis Pupillo hit an RBI single up the middle (3-0, 1 Out)
T6 | Ella McDowell hit a leadoff home run (3-1, 0 Out)
B6 | Ambrey Taylor went opposite field with a pinch-hit home run (4-1, 2 Out)