The Texas A&M softball team held the lead for five innings, but a six-run sixth inning from the Alabama Crimson Tide sealed the 8-5 comeback win on Saturday.
The No. 23 Aggies (24-9, 6-5 SEC) started the day with a newfound enthusiasm when senior Brittany Clopton got the game started with a single right up the middle. Freshman Tori Vidales smashed a screamer down the left field line to bring in the speedy Clopton. Two more RBIs from Ashley Walters and Cali Lanphear put the Aggies ahead 3-0 before the Tide came up to swing the bat.
The No. 5 Crimson Tide (25-7, 8-3 SEC) began to turn the game around after a pitching change to Sydney Littlejohn, who earned the win with 5.1 innings pitched and two runs allowed. The big sixth inning was started by a Marisa Runyon home run that scored two, while a pair of hits and a bases-loaded walk after a dropped foul ball ultimately gave the Tide the lead and the victory.
The series finale is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.