Johnson's homer clinches Tide's series win vs. Rebels
OXFORD, Miss. - Down to its last out trailing 1-0, a clutch three-run home run from Jenna Johnson pushed Alabama ahead of Ole Miss, 3-1, and a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning secured the comeback victory and the weekend series for the Crimson Tide.
The win gives Alabama (38-16, 14-9 SEC) the series over Ole Miss (28-25, 7-16 SEC), as the Tide has now won 17 of its 18 three-game series all-time vs. the Rebels. Eight of those series wins have come in Oxford and a win tomorrow would mark the Tide's 14th three-game sweep and its eighth on the road vs. Ole Miss.
The win is also Alabama's first this season when trailing after six innings, falling in its previous 13 opportunities. The Tide's last seventh-inning comeback came in a walk-off win at home over Mississippi State last season (April 15, 2022).
Alabama and Ole Miss were scoreless until the Rebels broke through with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth to plate the first run of the game. The score remained the same heading to the seventh, as the Tide had stranded a runner on base in each of the first five innings. Emma Broadfoot started the top of the seventh with a single and Kali Heivilin followed with another base hit two batters later to push the potential tying run into scoring position with one out. After a first-pitch ball, Johnson crushed a line drive over the left field fence as the three-run home run put Alabama ahead 3-1. Montana Fouts (22-8) and the Tide defense retired Ole Miss in order in the bottom half to secure the win and the weekend series.
Johnson's home run was her third of the season, her first since March 5 against Mercer. The three RBIs ties her season high and are her highest total in conference play this year. Broadfoot went 2-for-3 at the plate, her fifth multi-hit game of the season, while Ashley Prange drew a career-high three walks to extend her reached base streak to eight games. Fouts allowed just the one run on three hits, striking out nine for her second win of the weekend.
Highlights
- The win secures Alabama's 17th three-game series win over Ole Miss, eight of which have come in Oxford
- The Crimson Tide is now 65-6 all-time vs. the Rebels with a 31-3 mark in Oxford
- The comeback was Alabama's first this season when trailing after six innings, with its last seventh-inning comeback coming on April 15 last season at home against Mississippi State
- The home run was Jenna Johnson's third of the season and the three RBIs ties her season high
- Emma Broadfoot's two-hit game was her fifth multi-hit performance of the season
- Ashley Prange extended her reached-base streak to eight games drawing a career-best three walks today
- Montana Fouts earned her second win of the weekend, now sitting in a fourth-place tie with Stephanie VanBrakle (2003-06) in the Alabama career records with 97 career wins
- Fouts' nine strikeouts improve her season total to 292, just eight shy of recording the ninth 300-strikeout season in program history
- The nine Ks also improves her career total to 1,150, edging closer to school record-holder Kelsi Dunne (2008-11) with 1,219
Scoring Summary
- B4 | An RBI groundout put the Rebels on the board (0-1, 1 Out)
- T7 | Jenna Johnson blasted a three-run home run to left (3-1, 2 Out)
Up Next:
- at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.) Sunday, May 7 - 1 p.m. CT