Marisa Runyon was in a slump. She hadn’t hit the ball against an SEC opponent since the first game of the Florida series. With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning Sunday, Runyon hit a grand slam on a 2-2 count. She doubled in her next at-bat to bring in Alabama’s final run in the 8-1 win over Mississippi State to sweep the Bulldogs.

“She’s come through in the clutch so many times and that was just kind of expected especially with the bases loaded and I think it was two outs too,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “She’s just fun to watch.”

No. 4 Alabama tallied nine hits in the win. Senior centerfielder Haylie McCleney went 3-4 at the plate and was a home run short of the cycle. Junior utility Chandler Dare went 1-2 and Runyon went 2-4 on the day. 

Junior right-hander Sydney Littlejohn (16-2) earned the win after 4 1/3 innings pitched. She allowed one run—a home run—and three hits. She walked one and struck out three. Sophomore right-hander Alexis Osorio came in for relief in the fifth. She pitched 2 2/3 innings. She walked one and struck out four, including the last two.

Alabama (35-7) hits the road Tuesday for a midweek game at Southern Miss (20-22) at 6 p.m.