The No. 4 Crimson Tide softball team donned pink jerseys to promote breast cancer awareness in the Power of Pink doubleheader against Arkansas on Saturday and won both games.

Alabama handed the Razorbacks a 12-1 loss in five innings to take the first game and took the second game 4-3. The series marked the Crimson Tide’s fourth SEC sweep of the season, bringing its SEC record to 14-1. First baseman Leona Lafaele, who went 6-for-8 on the weekend with nine RBIs, said Saturday’s play was all for a bigger cause.

“Today we really were playing for something bigger than ourselves,” she said. “And it wasn’t a win – it was for every other woman out there that’s battling those real problems out there. They’re fighting a real battle, so the least we can do is play our hearts out. And it was for them – not for the win – it was for them.”

(See also “Alabama softball team extends winning streak to 7“)

The Alabama batters showcased explosive offense in the first game of the day, scoring 12 runs on 11 hits. The second inning was the biggest display, as the Crimson Tide’s bats drove in five runs on five hits. Second baseman Kaila Hunt, who went 3-for-3 during the game with three RBIs, said team focus was key.

“That just attests to making adjustments, learning from our at bats, getting good, timely hits when there are runners on base,” Hunt said. “So, I felt like we had almost as many hits as we did runs.”

During her five innings pitched, junior Leslie Jury (13-3) held Arkansas to just one run on three hits and struck out two. Her ERA now stands at 1.98.

(See also “Leslie Jury leads team in ERA, wins“)

The second game saw a quieting of the bats, as the Crimson Tide scored four runs on seven hits and beat the Razorbacks by just one run through seven innings. Hunt said it wasn’t all about offense during this series.

“We played good defense,” Hunt said. “We made some good plays, like Haylie [McCleney] stealing the home run ball. So, we just have to be consistent with that, because I think on the weekend we had zero errors, which is really good for us.”

Senior pitcher Jaclyn Traina (15-2, 1.69 ERA) got the win after pitching nearly seven nonconsecutive innings. After putting two on in the top of the seventh with one out, freshman Sydney Littlejohn came in for the second out before Traina finished the game.

Coach Patrick Murphy said the sweep against an SEC foe was big for the Crimson Tide.

“It’s unbelievable,” Murphy said. “You hope going in that you win the series, number one. And then to come out with three is just awesome. It’s good for our confidence for sure, and we just need to keep getting better.”

Alabama now holds a 35-5 record on the season. The Crimson Tide will face UAB at home Wednesday at 6:05 p.m.

(See also “Coach Patrick Murphy aims for depth of roster“)