There were chances, but Alabama couldn’t come up with the key hit.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Crimson Tide trailed by a pair of runs. Joe Breaux led off the inning by getting hit by the first pitch. He was erased on a fielder’s choice that put Kolby Robinson at first. Robinson advanced to second on a Brett Auerbach single and to third when T.J. Reeves drew a walk.

With the bases loaded, Morgan McCullough ground out to second but brought in a run. Tyler Gentry walked to reload the bases for Keith Holcombe. He fell behind 0-2 and struck out to end the game at 5-4.

The ninth inning was the third time the Crimson Tide left a runner 90 feet away.

In the first inning, Alabama was primed for a big inning. It loaded the bases off a pair of singles and a walk, but two consecutive 0-2 strikeouts slowed everything. A walk scored a run, but that was the only run Alabama scored from the situation.

In the very next inning, Alabama had runners at the corners with one out. The frame ended with a 5-4-3 double play.

The third chance Alabama had was in the bottom of the seventh. It put runners on first and second without any outs, before a sacrifice bunt moved both runners 90 feet. Two fly outs ended the threat.

“Kind of a story for us offensively in league play, just incredibly inefficient,” coach Brad Bohannon said. “I thought we had some really poor at-bats in the first two innings. I thought we really had a chance to get into their bullpen.”

For the most part, LSU’s starter Landon Marceaux kept the Crimson Tide in control. He threw five innings, allowing two runs off five hits in his first SEC outing.

Alabama’s starter Jeremy Randolph did not have the same success, allowing four runs off five hits in three innings of work.

Like it has for most of the year, the Crimson Tide bullpen was locked in. It allowed just one run off two hits in the final six innings. Brock Guffey threw three innings, striking out a pair.

“He’s a very confident and competitive young man,” Bohannon said. “I know as a coach, when he’s in the game, I feel good. I know he’s going to be really competitive and throw strikes.”

Deacon Medders threw two innings, striking out three.

With the loss, Alabama (26-19, 5-16 SEC) is 0-7 in SEC series finales. It is off for finals week, before traveling to Auburn.