GAME 1: ALABAMA 4, ARKANSAS 1
Jocelyn Briski has arrived. She came into Tuscaloosa two years ago with much fanfare as one of the nation’s top recruit, but had never lived up to the billing of a No. 1 pitcher on the Crimson Tide staff. Friday night, she impressed. And it wasn’t just the complete game, 14 strikeout effort that saw only three hits allowed. The real revelation is how she has advanced her game mentally. In seasons past when the junior would get into a little bit of a jam, she would let it eat at her and often times it would send her into a tailspin. This year, she has the mental toughness to shake it off and soldier through. If this is a permanent change, watch out for #23 the rest of this season.
That’s 1⃣2⃣ Ks tonight for Briski🔥
📺SECN+ | https://t.co/RhqNqyZl8h#Team30 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/eoOdsVznjl
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) March 14, 2026
Briski opened the game by striking out the side. She whiffed three in the 3rd, sandwiching a hit-by-pitch. In the 4th, the Razorbacks were sent back to the dugout in order on 8 pitches. Following a leadoff single in the 6th, the next three Hogs batters of that frame went down on strikes. And the final two outs of the game were brought to you by the letter K.
On offense, Alabama got a few assists from the Arky head coach. After Briski retired the side in the opening inning, Audrey Vandagriff and Brooke Wells both struck out against Arkansas ace Robyn Herron. However, Alexis Pupillo singled off her. Marlie Giles flied out to end the inning. It doesn’t seem noteworthy, but all this leads to later drama.
In the bottom of 3rd, Lauren Johnson made her way to second base. With two outs, Hog head lady Courtney Deifel instructed her pitcher to intentionally walk Wells. The tactic paid off as Pupillo struck out.
With the Tide trailing 1-0 with one out and two runners on base in the bottom of 5th, Deifel made the odd decision to replace her star pitcher in the circle. Even more perplexing is that she had her new pitcher serve up another free pass to Wells. However this time, Pupillo made her pay for that diss with a bases clearing double to put Bama up 3-1.
LET’S GO LEX!😤😤😤
📺SECN+ | https://t.co/RhqNqyZl8h#Team30 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/4LB3ApjOQv
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) March 14, 2026
In the next inning, Lo-Jo knocked in an insurance run on a SAC fly.
NOTES:
- The last batter of all seven Arkansas innings ended with a strikeout.
- Briski’s 14 Ks is only the second time in her career that she has had double digit whiffs. The other occasion was earlier this season when she matched that total against St. Thomas.
- In the bottom of the 2nd with no score, Ana Roman attempted to steal third and the throw from the catcher ticked off the third baseman’s glove and trickled into left field. For some dumb reason, Murphy told Roman to advance to home but she was easily thrown out. Murphy thought there would be runner interference and that she would be awarded home. Upon video review, the play was upheld and Roman was out. Gut®.
- It was another rough outing for Abby Duchscherer. She struck out with a runner on second, popped up with one on to end the 4th, and was hit by a pitch.
- Vandagriff continues to scuffle. She struck out twice, reached on an error, and grounded out to the pitcher to quash the rally in the 6th.
GAME 2: ARKANSAS 14, ALABAMA 9
The chances of this Alabama team going the whole season undefeated was highly unlikely. While a loss was expected at some point, few thought it would be as ugly as this one.
Leading up to this game, the Alabama defense had been outstanding. However, two first inning boots by the Tide put the Razorbacks up 2-0. Bama clawed back to tie it in the 2nd with RBI singles by Mari Hubbard and Jena Young.
Tide starter Vic Moten gave up two singles and a double in the next frame as Arky again took a two run lead. The Hogs pushed the advantage to 6-2 in the 4th, with a walk and two singles. When Moten walked the next batter, Kaitlyn Pallozzi relieved her and got the final out of the inning.
Alabama showed some resolve in the 4th as they loaded the bases on two walks and an error. Young picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice. Arkansas made a pitching change and the new pitcher proceeded to deliver a wild pitch that sent Salen Hawkins home. Another walk and a hit by pitch put loaded the bases for Brooke Wells. There would be no intentional walk this time, but maybe there should have been. The Tide star singled in two runs to tie it up at 6 runs apiece. Alexis Pupillo followed up with a single to take a 7-6 lead. However, Marlie Giles grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The lead did not last long as the very first Hogs batter of the next inning homered to tie it up. After Pallozzi gave up a double and a hit by pitch to the next two, Moten re-entered the game and got three outs. However, the Tide pitcher gave up a leadoff dinger in the 6th. In the 7th, Arkansas led off the inning with another solo home run off Bama pitching. Alea Johnson would relieve her and the wheels fell off. Arky loaded the bases on a double and a pair of walks. Johnson plunked the next batter to make it 10-7 Pigs. At this point, most coaches would have removed the pitcher, but Murphy looked to his Gut® and kept her in. The result was a Razorback grand slam to take a touchdown lead.
Alabama got two unearned runs back in the bottom of the 7th, but that was all.
NOTES:
- Despite the nine runs scored by Alabama, they recorded only six hits – all singles. The Tide was beneficiaries of seven walks, two HBP, and two errors that scored three unearned runs.
- Arkansas collected 12 hits including three doubles and three homers.
- Bama had two errors and two balls grounded into double plays.
- Unfortunately, Giles went 0 for 4 with a K on her Senior Day.
- Vandagriff was 0 for 2 with two Ks and one walk. Following the game, Murphy was asked about the sophomores struggles and he said that ‘Griff “needs to put the ball in play more and because her best attribute is her speed. So, if she puts the ball in play, there’s a chance for her to beat it out. Right now, probably too many Ks. Just touch the ball. Hmm.
- Wells was 2-4 with 2 RBI.
- Hubbard was 1-3 with an RBI. Ambrey Taylor pinch-hit for her in the 7th and picked up an RBI on a ground out.
GAME 3: ALABAMA 4, ARKANSAS 1
On Sunday, Jocelyn Briski (10-0) was back in the circle and all was right with the world. The Crimson Tide pitcher made only one mistake in giving up a leadoff 6th inning solo home run. Beyond that, Briski scattered five singles and walked to, but struck out 10 Razorbacks.
Caught Looking😮💨
📺SECN+ | https://t.co/NFYYewKOXc#Team30 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/KvYXXbmGME
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) March 15, 2026
Salen Hawkins led of the 2nd with a double to left center and was knocked in by a Marlie Giles single. In the 4th, Ana Roman walked and Hawkins got her second hit of the day. After Mari Hubbard sacrificed the two runners up a base, an Arkansas error at the hot corner scored Roman.
Following an Audrey Vandagriff single to start the 5th inning, Arky made a pitching change though their starter was not pitching all that bad. The new hurler threw a wild pitch to advance Vandagriff a station. Alexis Pupillo singled her in to make it 3-0 home team.
After the Hogs home run cut the deficit to two runs, Bama struck back in the bottom of 6th when pinch hitter Ambrey Taylor sent a ball into the stratosphere.
Pinch Hit Homer for Ambrey!
📺SECN+ | https://t.co/NFYYewKOXc#Team30 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/Wf505J6B5j
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) March 15, 2026
NOTES:
- What a stupid comment to say “Patrick Murphy looks like a genius”. He looks like an idiot for not putting Taylor in the everyday lineup as we have all suggested. The freshman has four home runs in just 20 at bats.
- Hawkins’s double was the only Tide hit that was more than one base.
- No errors for Alabama. Two for Arky.
- This game was the Power of Pink game that is to raise awareness for breast cancer research and treatment.
- After going 5 for 7 with two doubles, two homers and seven RBI in the first two games, Dakota Kennedy went 0 for 3 on Sunday.
[SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: The section below is not all rainbows, lollipops, and unicorns. If we see an issue that we deem worth discussing, RBR is not going to shy away from it. That is the MO that this whole website is based on. If you want sunshine pumped up your nether regions, there are PLENTY of those people more than willing to provide that service. If you are easily triggered, stop reading now and play the above video on repeat. If you live in the real world, carry on my wayward son.]
SERIES NOTES
- I am so mad with Patrick Murphy with what he has done to Audrey Vandagriff. And it is not just how he encouraged her to bunt more. After a sensational All-American freshman season, it feels like she is getting into her head too much and pressing in the leadoff role. She needs to relax and get back to enjoying the game. It feels like The Gut® did not mentally prepare her for this season. Moving her out of the top spot in the order might help her confidence.
- Vandagriff was 1 for 8 with three runs. She walked three times but whiffed a team-high four times.
- Abby Duchscherer did not play on Saturday or Sunday. Mari Hubbard got those two starts.
- Giles was 1 for 10 with two Ks. Hitting her fourth seems wrong.
- Ana Roman was 2 of 6 but also coaxed four walks and scored three times.
- Ambrey Taylor recorded RBIs in both her plate appearances. But, yeah. Let’s leaver her on the bench.
MVPs
- BRISKI: 14.0 IP, 2 WINS, 9 HITS, 2 RUNS, 6 BB, 22 K, 10-0 overall
- PUPILLO: 4-9 (.444 BA), 1 DBL, 5 RBI, 1 RUN
UPCOMING ALABAMA SCHEDULE
How about we give Ambrey Taylor a start??
- Tue, Mar 17 vs ULM 2pm/3pm – St Patrick’s Day!
- Fri, Mar 20 at Missouri 5pm/6pm
- Sat, Mar 21 at Missouri 2pm/3pm
- Sun, Mar 22 at Missouri noon/1pm
HOW TO WATCH… ALLEGEDLY
There has been no announcement but assume that the Trio of games at Mizzou will be available on the SECNX Streaming (ESPN+). The ULM game is definitely on that service.
#RollTide #Team30
