Alabama Baseball falls in Series Opener Against No. 1 Arkansas

Alabama dropped their series opener against Arkansas Friday night, 5-3. Alabama starter Ben Hess earned the loss, while Arkansas starter Hagen Smith got the credit for the win.

The Razorbacks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run thanks to first baseman Ben McLaughlin, followed by a solo shot from third baseman Jared Sprague-Lott.

The top of the Tide order would be unable to respond in the bottom of the first, going in a 1-2-3 fashion against Hagen Smith.

Ben Hess began to find a groove in the second, striking out three in a row after walking the first Razorback batter.

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However, the middle of the Alabama lineup couldn't cut into the Arkansas lead in the second, going for in order for a second-straight inning.

The Razorbacks would extend their lead in the top of the third, tacking on two via a Hudson White RBI single and a wild pitch to make it a 5-0 lead in the Razorbacks' advantage.

Thanks to elite pitching by the Alabama and Arkansas bullpens, both squads went runless until the eighth inning, when second baseman Bryce Eblin breathed life into the Alabama offense, knocking a single through the middle of the infield to spark a three-run rally for the Crimson Tide.

"It's amazing how much deeper your lineup feels having Bryce Eblin in it. He's just a really good player. Getting him back was kind of a shot in the arm for us; it just felt right," said Alabama head coach on having Bryce Eblin back for the first time since the Georgia series.

An Ian Petrutz RBI single gave Alabama their first run of the evening, which was immediately followed by a Justin Lebron RBI single to make it a 5-2 ballgame.

A TJ McCants sac fly would add one more for the Crimson Tide, reinvigorating the 5,524 fans packed into Sewell-Thomas stadium.

Alabama reliever Zane Probst mowed through the Razorback's offense in the top of the ninth to keep the Tide alive, only allowing a Jared Sprague-Lott single.

"That dude [Probst] works harder than anyone on the team," said Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn in his post-game press conference. "He comes in there and gives us two zeros, and at the end, gives us a chance."

"He [Probst] just deserved tonight," Vaughn would say later in his post-game presser.

The Crimson Tide had three strong at-bats in the bottom of the ninth, but they couldn't finish them, falling to the Arkansas Razorbacks 5-3.

Vaughn made no announcements on Sunday's starter for Alabama, which is currently TBA.

Alabama will look to even up the series tomorrow at 5 p.m.