Alexis Pupillo's Clutch Hit Secures Win for No. 6 Alabama over No. 9 Arkansas

The Crimson Tide stays undefeated on the season with a 4-1 victory over the Razorbacks at Rhoads Stadium on Friday night.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:48am

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Alabama softball player Alexis Pupillo hit a clutch three-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning to give No. 6 Alabama a 4-1 victory over No. 9 Arkansas at Rhoads Stadium on Friday night. Alabama starter Jocelyn Briski had a dominant performance, tying her career high with 14 strikeouts and allowing just one run on three hits.

Why it matters

This was a key SEC opening series win for the undefeated Crimson Tide, who improved to 25-0 (4-0 SEC) on the season. Alabama has now recorded three top-10 wins this year, showcasing their strength as one of the top teams in the country.

The details

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Pupillo came through with a bases-clearing double to give Alabama the lead. Briski then shut down the powerful Arkansas offense the rest of the way, striking out 14 without a walk. Lauren Johnson added an insurance run in the sixth to make the final score 4-1.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 14, 2026.
  • Pupillo's go-ahead double came in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The players

Alexis Pupillo

A senior softball player for Alabama who hit the game-winning three-run double in the fifth inning.

Jocelyn Briski

Alabama's junior ace pitcher who tied her career high with 14 strikeouts and allowed just one run on three hits.

Lauren Johnson

An Alabama player who hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to provide an insurance run.

Patrick Murphy

The head coach of the Alabama softball team.

Robyn Herron

The starting pitcher for Arkansas who was chased in the fifth inning.

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What they’re saying

“It was a great first home SEC win, and you've got to give it up to [Jocelyn] Briski. That was one hell of a pitching performance. Fourteen strikeouts against one of the best lineups in the country. They had a little charge there in the inning they scored, but she didn't fold and allowed us to score three runs after that, which was key. Arkansas is a good team, so it's a huge win for us.”

— Patrick Murphy, Alabama head coach

What’s next

Alabama will go for the series win against Arkansas on Saturday at 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.

The takeaway

Alabama's dominant pitching performance and clutch hitting from Alexis Pupillo secured a key SEC opening series win over a top-10 opponent, further solidifying the Crimson Tide as one of the elite teams in college softball this season.