OKLAHOMA CITY | The finish of the University of Alabama softball team's final game mirrored the end of its 2015 season.

The Crimson Tide got the situation it wanted against LSU on Saturday night at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in the late-night elimination game at the Women's College World Series, but didn't get the result.

Similarly, Alabama put itself in position to compete for the national championship by making the eight-team World Series field, but didn't have the kind of run it wanted.

Alabama lost to LSU, 5-3, cutting a four-run deficit in half in the top of the seventh and final inning. UA, which knocked off second-seeded Oregon earlier in the day, was unable to complete its final rally to finish with a 48-15 record.

"I always ask them to at least get the tying run at the plate at the very end, and we had the winning run (at bat)," Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said.

Alabama took the lead in the top of the first when sophomore third baseman Marisa Runyon singled in freshman first baseman Demi Turner. The RBI was Runyon's 80th in 2015, setting a new single-season school record.

LSU answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning and increased their lead to 5-1 with two more runs in the second.

That's how it stayed until the top of the seventh. UA loaded the bases and scored a run on senior Jadyn Spencer's sacrifice fly, and another on a wild pitch, cutting LSU's lead to two runs. Runyon, who had hit a dramatic grand slam to propel Alabama to victory over Oklahoma in the decisive game of the super regional round to earn its spot at the World Series, grounded out to end the game.

"I really thought Jadyn was going to hit a grand slam or Runyon (would) hit a home run to go ahead," Murphy said, "but, you know, it didn't happen."

Alabama got its leadoff runner on base in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings, but didn't score a run in any of those innings. UA stranded seven runners.

"Unfortunately, I still think we didn't peak at the right time," Runyon said. "And we didn't get the clutch hits every single time like we needed to."

Said Murphy, "It's just like a football team that goes 60 yards and all of a sudden goes (three-and-out) and has to punt."

Sophomore Sydney Littlejohn (16-2) took the loss. Senior Leslie Jury pitched three innings of two-hit relief, striking out four batters in her final appearance in a UA uniform.

Next season, Alabama will have to replace departing seniors Jury, outfielder Spencer, catcher Chaunsey Bell and shortstop Danae Hays from its regular lineup.

Alabama will build around pitcher Alexis Osorio, who earned second-team All-America status as a freshman, as well as three-time All-American outfielder Haylie McCleney and Runyon, who led the SEC in RBIs in conference games.

Other returning regular starters are Leona Lafaele at first base, Turner at second and Chandler Dare in the outfield.

Alabama will also get back infielder Peyton Grantham, a sophomore who sat out the season as a redshirt after undergoing preseason knee surgery. Top incoming freshmen include catcher Reagan Dykes of Collins, Miss., lefty pitcher Madi Moore of Winfield and right-handed pitcher Andrea Kindrick of Russellville, Ark.

"I'm looking forward to Haylie being a senior and her three other (senior) classmates," Murphy said. "I know they're going to show great leadership and we'll do amazing things again."

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0224.