The good news is that the Crimson Tide (40-21) won the Tuscaloosa Regional. The bad news is the next stage of the NCAA Tournament for them is facing the four-peat Oklahoma Sooners.
ALABAMA 3, VIRGINIA TECH 2
After several hours of weather delays, these two teams finally got going Sunday evening.
Being the “away” team, Alabama batted first. Audrey Vandagriff got the Tide off to a great start with a leadoff triple. Unfortunately for Bama, she was left standing at that station.
Catelyn Riley got the start in the circle for Alabama against Va Tech’s Emma Lemley. Those two went toe-for-toe for four innings. A single and a double put the Hokies in business in the 3rd, but they could not convert. Lauren Johnson singled to begin the 4th frame, but again the runner was stranded. VT got two singles in the bottom of the inning with nothing to show for it.
In the 5th, Salen Hawkins and Brooke Ellestad connected on back-to-back one-baggers. Mari Hubbard flied out, but Abby Duchscherer loaded the bases with a walk. Following a Larissa Preuitt fly out, Vandagriff drew a four-pitch walk to score the first run of the game. Lo-Jo followed that up with a two-run single.
Riley came up huge in the bottom of the 5th, retiring the side in order on eight pitches.
The Hokies started the 6th with a single and the Duchscherer ended it with an unassisted line-out double play.
With three outs to go, an old problem reared its ugly head – the ol’ 7th inning meltdown. A Hokie hit a line drive that ricocheted off Riley’s leg and the batter safely reached first base with one out. After the staff checked her out, she stayed in the game. BIG mistake. The next batter hit a two-run homer to close the gap to 3-2. Jocelyn Briski came in and struck out All-American candidate Cori McMillan and ended the game by coaxing red-hot Jordan Lynch to foul out to end the game.
NOTES:
- Alabama is heading to a Super Regional for an NCAA-record 19th time.
- It was another iffy outing for a Tide pitcher. Riley gave up eight hits and a walk with three Ks. Again, it was the stellar defense that made this team succeed.
- The Tide had six hits and three bases on balls to go with seven strikeouts.
- Va Tech’s Cori McMillan had a nation-leading 31 homers on the season, but did not hit any against Bama.
- Mari Hubbard got her third straight start of the season for the Crimson Tide as DP – the first time such a thing occurred for her this season. She finally collected with her first hit in that span – a double to open the 7th inning.
MVP
- RILEY – 6.1 innings, 2 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K
- JOHNSON – 2 for 4, 2 RBI
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
NCAA Super Regionals are Thu May 22 – Sun May 25.
- Alabama at Oklahoma – best of three, TBA
TV… ALLEGEDLY
Ya think maybe ESPN NCAA planned it this way? The two biggest names in college softball will surely be on the big channels. TBA. Check back.
POSITIVE THINKING SCHEDULE
- Thu May 29 – Fri Jun 6: Women’s College World Series, Oklahoma City, OK
OTHERS
- IN: Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Clemson, Tennessee, Nebraska, FSU, Texas Tech, UGA, and Oklahoma are all in.
- OUT: Washington was bounced by Mississippi State on Saturday. 14-seed Duke was knocked out by Georgia.
- DOWN & OUT: Major meltdown in Baton Rouge as LSU was upset by SE Louisiana TWICE and did not even make it to Sunday. Nebraska ended up taking the Regional.
- No. 1 overall seed Texas A&M has had fits with Liberty. The Aggies lost to the Flamers on Saturday. On Sunday, Libby led 6-0 until TAMU hit three 4th inning homers to take a 7-6 lead. The Aggs ended up winning 14-11. They will play a second game.
- Arizona is up 7-1 in the 2nd inning of an elimination game with Ole Miss. Should the ‘Cats hang on, the two teams will play one more game.
- Arkansas and Oklahoma State are in a weather delay. The Hogs have yet to lose in the Regional. The ‘Pokes have one defeat.
#RollTide #Team29
