Interesting would be a mild way to describe the back-and-forth affair between two conference rivals at the Georgia Softball Complex.

No. 7 Alabama was able to string together enough big hits to end No. 4 Georgia’s unbeaten record at home in their 8-5 victory in Game 2 of Saturday’s SEC doubleheader, setting up a series rubber match on Sunday.

Alabama (16-6, 1-1 SEC) rode the bat of Whitney Larsen, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, as well as some favorable calls to eliminate an early lead by the Bulldogs (19-2, 1-1 SEC).  Larsen’s three-run homer in the sixth inning eventually proved to be the game-winner for the Crimson Tide.

The first inning of the game was indicative of the entire game: unpredictable.

Georgia pitcher Sarah McCloud struggled with control and illegal pitches in the midst of strong winds and rain, allowing Alabama to take a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch.  The umpire crew working the game called four illegal pitches to move Crimson Tide runners in the contest, meaning four free bases against Georgia pitchers.

The Bulldogs would respond in the bottom of the first frame with three runs of their own thanks to a home run by first baseman Brianna Hesson to score left fielder Megan Wiggins and third baseman Alisa Goler.

All-American Taylor Schlopy, who had been held without a hit to that point on the day, gave Georgia a 4-1 second-inning lead by blasting a solo shot over the center field wall.  Schlopy went on to hit 2-for-3 with a walk in the second game.

But the tide would turn on the Bulldogs and their pitchers in the third inning.

Following an RBI single by Larsen, head coach Lu Harris-Champer replaced McCloud with freshman Alison Owen to face All-American Charlotte Morgan with no outs and runners on second and third.

Owen would be penalized with consecutive illegal pitches to score both runners to tie the game at 4-4, much to the blatant disgust of Harris-Champer.  For both calls, the tenth-year coach stormed onto the field to argue her case for her team, but to no avail.

Although Georgia would escape the inning without allowing any more runs, the damage was already inflicted as momentum had significantly shifted towards Alabama.

The Crimson Tide would take a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning on a home run by designated player Olivia Gibson.

Georgia responded in the bottom of the same frame, as Wiggins singled up the middle to score sophomore Ashley Pauly. Although the Bulldogs were able to tie the game, they could not further capitalize after loading the bases.

Georgia stranded nine runners in the game, twice with runners in scoring position during the final four innings.

Following Larsen’s towering home run, Georgia mounted one last attempt to retake the lead but fell short in the bottom of the sixth

After loading the bases with just one out, Alabama looked to ace pitcher Kelsi Dunne to close out the game.  Dunne would go on to strike out the last five batters of the game, effectively closing the door on any perceived comeback.

Georgia used three different pitchers in the contest including junior Katie Murphy, who pitched well but gave up the final three runs for the loss, with each giving up at least one run.

Alabama has now 12 out of the past 16 games in the SEC matchup.

Georgia will look to win the series on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Georgia Softball Complex.

Game 1: Georgia 3, Alabama 0

Both Arevalo and Dunne (6-4), who was an All-American in 2009, carried no-hitters through the first four innings of the showdown between two of last year’s Women’s College World Series semifinalists.  But as Arevalo continued her no-hitter on through the fifth, the levy would finally break for the dangerous Bulldog lineup.