It took nine innings, but Alabama softball came out victorious with a 6-3 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday in the Tuscaloosa Regional.
The Crimson Tide found themselves in a pitcher’s duel for the second time in as many days. Kayla Beaver pitched another gem and was provided very little run support, a theme Alabama has witnessed the entire season.
Alabama struck first in the fourth inning when Marlie Giles scored from first base on a single by Jenna Johnson, helped by an error from the Lions' center fielder.
Southeastern Louisiana answered with a run in the sixth to tie the game at 1-1 and push the game into extra innings. The Lions strung together two singles to put runners on the corners with two outs and successfully executed a double steal after Alabama was unable to throw out the runner going to second.
In the ninth inning, Jenna Johnson reached on a one-out walk and sophomore catcher Riley Valentine was called in to pinch hit. Valentine gave Alabama a two-run lead, smashing a home run off the scoreboard in left field. The Crimson Tide added three more runs for a five-run ninth inning.
Beaver pitched a complete game for the Crimson Tide allowing just three runs, only one earned, on five hits while striking out 10 batters in nine innings.
Saturday’s win advances the Crimson Tide to the regional championship on Sunday, where they will need one win to advance to the super regional.
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