TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama overcame an early one run deficit, scoring three unanswered runs to defeat Tennessee 3-1 Friday night and even the weekend series at 1-1.
Alabama (37-11, 13-7 SEC) fell behind early on a second inning solo homer by Tennessee (36-12, 12-8 SEC) but a pair of runs in the fourth and some insurance in the sixth was all the Crimson Tide needed to come away with a narrow victory. Danielle Richard went 2-for-3 batting ninth, including an RBI single to score Alabama's first run of the game in the fourth inning. Demi Turner tallied the other RBI for the Tide with a groundout in the fourth as the third run scored on a sixth-inning wild pitch.
Leslie Jury (9-3) limited the Lady Vols to just one run and stranded nine baserunners, throwing 6.2 innings for the win as Sydney Littlejohn entered in the bottom of the seventh to secure the final out and earn the five-pitch save, her first of the season.
Tennessee (36-12, 12-8 SEC) stranded a total of 11 runners on base, seven of which were in scoring position. Taylor Koenig went 2-for-3, scoring the lone run of the day for the Lady Vols on the solo home run. Starter Cheyanne Tarango (4-3) went the distance in the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits and seven walks.
