Alabama Softball Keeps Season Alive with Win over Chattanooga

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The resilient assortment of Alabama followers remaining inside Rhoads Stadium on Saturday night time clamored for a motive to erupt.

Earlier within the day, they weathered by seven sun-drenched innings because the Crimson Tide noticed its 44-game successful streak in NCAA regional play snapped in a shutout loss to Stanford. With Alabama relegated to a regional losers’ bracket for the primary time since 2007, it was then made to attend as Chattanooga outdueled Murray State over eight innings in a sport that was delayed by lightning.

By the point Alabama’s elimination sport towards Chattanooga rolled round Jenna Johnson ensured that persistence paid off. The Crimson Tide leadoff hitter took the fourth pitch of the sport over the left-field fence, sending the house crowd right into a frenzy whereas sparking a slumping Alabama lineup to a 6-2 victory.

“It was an extended wait, it was an extended day, however the crowd was into and we may really feel their power,” Johnson stated. “I actually needed to get a run on the board for the group, and I used to be ready to try this and get issues began.” 

Alabama elected to make use of Dallis Goodnight as its leadoff hitter in its first sport of the Tuscaloosa regional on Friday earlier than utilizing Ashley Prange as its leadoff hitter within the loss to Stanford earlier Saturday. The duo mixed to go 0-for-5 over the 2 video games. Getting into Saturday night time’s matchup towards Chattanooga, Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy turned to his group for a solution on the leadoff spot. 

“I stated, ‘You have to assist me out right here. Who needs to hit leadoff,’” Murphy stated following the sport. “The primary I heard was [Johnson’s]. … I may really feel the arrogance in her for, so I stated, ‘Let’s go. You are hitting leadoff.’” 

With the win, Alabama will advance to Sunday’s championship spherical the place it might want to beat Stanford twice with a purpose to advance to its seventeenth straight tremendous regional. The Cardinal beat the Crimson Tide 6-0 earlier Saturday. Alabama and Stanford are set to sq. off on Sunday at 10:05 a.m. CT with a attainable second sport scheduled for half-hour after the primary.

After Johnson set the tone early for Alabama throughout Saturday night time’s do-or-die sport towards Chattanooga, a robust efficiency from Jaala Torrence within the circle ensured the Crimson Tide’s season would dwell on not less than one other day.

Making her first look since an April 27 loss to Western Kentucky, the sophomore starter pitched 6^1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits and three walks whereas putting out two batters. She was relieved by Montana Fouts, who retired each batters she confronted within the backside of the seventh. 

With Lexi Kilfoyl nonetheless battling hip and foot accidents, Torrence’s fill-in begin was essential for the Crimson Tide because it had already used Fouts in addition to fellow starter Alex Salter in every of its earlier two video games of the regional. 

“I had full religion in [Torrence],” Murphy stated. “Her mid-week video games this yr have been terrific. That is form of what she did all yr lengthy within the mid-week video games for us.” 

Regardless of its quick begin, Alabama wasn’t capable of break the sport open till a two-run single from Jenna Lord prolonged its result in 5-1 within the high of the sixth inning. Alabama had scored 4 or fewer runs in every of its earlier 11 video games. The Crimson Tide’s seven hits on the night time have been greater than it had recorded in its earlier two video games of the regional mixed. 

“That felt like 20 runs,” Murphy stated with amusing. “Once you get that leadoff house run, that is enormous. I actually thought we have been going to be on our means, however child steps, I assume.”

The Crimson Tide obtained its second run through the third inning as a squeeze bunt from Johnson scored Savannah Woodard, who slid in secure at house forward of a throw from Chattanooga pitcher Brooke Parrott. Woodard then delivered Alabama’s third run within the fourth inning, driving in Ally Shipman on a sacrifice fly to proper area. Shipman added one other insurance coverage run with an RBI single within the seventh. 

Chattanooga scored its first run on a wild pitch from Torrence within the backside of the fourth inning earlier than Adison Keylon tacked on the second with a solo house run within the backside of the seventh.