No. 15 Texas A&M drops series opener against No. 4 Alabama

COLLEGE STATION – No. 15 Texas A&M softball fell in its series opener against No. 4 Alabama, 8-3, Friday at the Aggie Softball Complex.
 
The Aggies (31-10, 5-8 SEC) plated a run in the first to take a 1-0 advantage. Freshman Keeli Milligan led off the inning with a walk, before stealing her 47^th base of the season. Milligan is now tied with Sharonda McDonald for the second-most steals in a season and is one shy of McDonald's record of 48 set in 2005.
 
Following a sophomore Ashley Walters walk, sophomore Tori Vidales reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. Junior April Ryan drove in Milligan on an infield single.
 
Alabama responded with seven runs in the second. Kallie Case recorded an RBI single up the middle, before Haylie McCleney hit a grand slam to center. Leona Lafaele capped off the inning with a two-run homer to right center.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, A&M got two runs on freshman Samantha Show's seventh home run of the season. Ryan got a lead-off single to left field, before Show roped the 11^th pitch of the at bat off the light pole in left center.
 
The Crimson Tide tacked on a run in the seventh on a solo shot from Lafaele.
 
A&M rallied in the seventh, loading the bases with one out on three-straight walks, but Alabama was able to get out of the jam on back-to-back strikeouts.
 
Show was saddled with the loss, throwing all seven innings giving up five earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
 
Due to potential inclement weather, Sunday's game has been moved to Saturday. The doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m., and the stands will be cleared following the completion of game one, and Sunday's ticket will be used for game two.
 
Saturday's games can be seen on the SEC Network +, available through WatchESPN and the ESPN app and can be heard locally on KWBC 1550 AM or online at www.RadioAggieland.com.
 
To learn more about Texas A&M softball, log on to 12thMan.com or follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter.