Live Updates: Alabama Softball Opens SEC Schedule Against Arkansas

The Crimson Tide softball team begins SEC play this weekend at home, hosting Arkansas for a three-game series.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Senior ace Montana Fouts allowed just two hits as the Alabama softball team opened Southeastern Conference play with a 2-0 victory against Arkansas on Saturday. 

Senior left-field Jenna Johnson went 3-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Crimson Tide offensively. 

Alabama improved to 21-6 (1-0 SEC). Arkansas fell to 20-8 (0-1) 

The teams will play Game 2 of the weekend series at 5 o.m Sunday. 

Starting Lineups

Arkansas

• CF Johnson
• LF Kramer
• DP Hedgecock
• 3B Gammill
• 1B Halvorson
• RF Hoffman
• 2B Foreman
• C Camenzind
• SS Rijo

P: Delce

Alabama

• SS Cahalan
• 3B Prange
• C Shipman
• DP Dowling
• LF Johnson
• 1B Esman
• 2B Heivilin
• RF Prueitt
• CF White

P: Fouts 

Scouting Alabama

• Alabama opens conference play this weekend with a three-game home series against Arkansas
• The Crimson Tide returns to Rhoads Stadium this weekend after a six-game road swing, last playing at home on Tuesday, March 7 against Western Michigan
• Alabama is coming off a 5-2 road win at UNA Tuesday night in Florence, Ala.
• In the win over the Lions, Montana Fouts threw her 1,000th career strikeout, becoming the fifth player in program history to reach the milestone
• Kenleigh Cahalan leads the offense with 29 hits, 25 runs scored and a .377 batting average, while Ashley Prange is close behind with 23 hits, including a team-leading nine home runs and 28 RBIs
• The Alabama pitching staff has a 1.96 ERA with 179.0 innings pitched, led by Montana Fouts at 10-3 with a 1.71 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 81.2 innings pitched
• Murphy is in his 25th season as head coach at Alabama with a 1,214-339 (.782) record
• Alabama returns 11 players from last year's team, including All-SEC honorees Montana Fouts, Ashley Prange, Ally Shipman and Bailey Dowling, while also welcoming five freshmen and three transfers