Alabama Head Coach Patrick Murphy and Alexis Pupillo (31) in Action as Crimson Tide Fall 5-2 at Missouri

Columbia, Mo. — Patrick Murphy’s ejection in the top of the seventh inning provided a jolt of drama, but it could not propel sixth-ranked Alabama to a comeback as the Crimson Tide dropped a 5-2 decision to Missouri on Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Murphy was tossed after vehemently arguing a called third strike on Alabama’s home-run leader Brooke Wells that appeared well below the knees. The ejection seemed to awaken the offense: the Tide loaded the bases and brought the winning run to the plate, only to come up empty. Alexis Pupillo grounded to the right side for an infield single that kept the rally alive, but freshman Ana Roman’s line drive to shortstop ended the threat and the game.

For the second straight contest, solo home runs accounted for all of Alabama’s scoring. Audrey Vandagriff opened the game with a lead-off blast, and Pupillo followed two batters later with her 11th long ball of the season to stake the Tide to a 2-0 advantage after one inning. The offense then went silent, finishing 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the series.

Freshman starter Vic Moten cruised through the first two frames before running into trouble in the third. A one-out single, hit-by-pitch, and Moten’s own error on a comebacker allowed Missouri to plate its first run. Sophie Smith’s ground-rule double moments later cleared the bases and gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Stefiana Abruscato added insurance with a two-out solo shot in the fourth.

Moten exited after four innings. Classmate Kaitlyn Pallozzi surrendered a run in the sixth to push the margin to 5-2, where it remained.

The loss is just Alabama’s second of the year (28-2, 6-2 SEC) and comes against a Missouri squad that entered the weekend winless in league play (15-17, 1-4 SEC). The teams close the series Sunday at noon.