Alabama softball headed to Women's College World Series after super regional win

Maxwell Donaldson, The Tuscaloosa News
·2 min read
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Alabama softball is going back to Oklahoma City.

The 5-seed Crimson Tide (45-20) earned the 3-2 win over Northwestern (42-13) in Game 3 of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional at Rhoads Stadium on Sunday. Alabama will start play in the Women's College World Series against Tennessee at 11 a.m. CT on Thursday on ESPN.

Alabama scored the first runs in the third inning with a rally coming out of the rain delay. Ally Shipman brought in two runs with a single. Northwestern responded in the fourth with teams trading home runs in their final at-bats.

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Alabama pitches its way into WCWS

Alabama's pitching, even with a limited Montana Fouts, has been stellar this postseason. That didn't change with Fouts coming back and pairing with an inspired Jaala Torrence. Alabama allowed six runs to Northwestern during the super regional, with Fouts and Torrence stumping the Wildcats offense.

More missed opportunities

Alabama missed three opportunities on Saturday and missed another one in the first inning of the series finale. Alabama got two runners on with one out, but the next two batters popped up to end the inning. After Alabama scored the first two runs, there was an opportunity to bring in more runs but Alabama would pop up and then strike out, stranding runners on second and third.

Montana Fouts battles through

It was the third straight day that Fouts appeared and her second straight relief appearance. Her velocity stayed at the 65-67 mph range, about 5 mph of her top end before sustaining a leg injury in the SEC Tournament that forced her to miss the Crimson Tide's NCAA regional.

It was clear that Fouts didn't have her top stuff again but she battled through it, even after a ball went off of her right knee, the non-injured one.

Fouts threw 3 ⅔ innings allowing one run on four hits and one strikeout.

Alabama softball legend Kelly Kretschman prepares to direct the crowd in a cheer during the Super Region Final Sunday, May 28, 2023, at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama softball legend Kelly Kretschman prepares to direct the crowd in a cheer during the Super Region Final Sunday, May 28, 2023, at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama softball advances to Women's College World Series

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