With the end of their season on the line Sunday afternoon, Alabama softball defeated Northwestern 3-2 to advance to their 14th appearance in the Women’s College World Series.
Alabama used it's recipe for success in the NCAA Tournament of dominant pitching and timely hitting to cap off the super regional against Northwestern with a victory.
Montana Fouts came in relief to provide the Crimson Tide with the dominant pitching, going three and two-thirds innings allowing just one run on four hits. Catcher Ally Shipman provided the timely hitting with a two-run single down the left field line to give Alabama a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
During the bottom half of the third inning, the game was delayed for about an hour due to lightning in the area, but when the game returned, Alabama’s offense came to life. A couple of infield singles and a walk loaded the bases for Shipman, setting up her two-run single to break the scoreless tie.
Northwestern immediately responded with a run of their own in the fourth that knocked Alabama starter Jaala Torrence out of the game, who was replaced by Fouts. Just like Saturday night’s game, Torrence started for the Crimson Tide and provided a solid start and then handed the ball over to Fouts to close it down for Alabama.
Alabama got their run back with another piece of timely hitting when Jenna Johnson crushed a solo home run off the left field foul pole to extend the Crimson Tide lead back to two runs, which would end up being crucial as Northwestern closed the gap to one run after Maeve Nelson hit a solo shot in the final at bat for Northwestern.
With the win, Alabama will make their 14th appearance in the Women’s College World Series and are scheduled to play the No. 4 seed and SEC tournament champions Tennessee on Thursday June 1 at 11 a.m.
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