Alabama softball earned its 19th NCAA super regional bid with a 3-2 win over Virginia Tech on Sunday in the Tuscaloosa Regional final.
The No. 15 Crimson Tide earned its third-straight super regional bid after going 3-0 in Tuscaloosa Regional play. It opened regional action with a 8-0 run-rule victory over Jackson State on Friday night, following that with a 4-3 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday to advance to the regional final.
Alabama held the 3-0 lead for two innings over the Hokies before a seventh inning, one-out, two-run home run made it a 3-2 game. Jocelyn Briski then entered in relief, recording the final two outs as Alabama held on to win it. Lauren Johnson led Alabama's offense with two hits and two RBIs.
"I think for this team to get 40-wins is one of the best accomplishments we have had as a program," coach Patrick Murphy said. "It's just very satisfying to see that 4-0 right behind Alabama."
The Crimson Tide now advance to face Oklahoma in the Norman Super Regional.
Here are three takeaways from Alabama's (40-21) NCAA regional win over Virginia Tech (42-13) to earn its bid to super regionals.
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Audrey Vandagriff set the tone for Alabama at the plate with a leadoff, 10-pitch at bat that ended with her launching a triple to right center. Even though Alabama was unable to capitalize on the leadoff triple, it set the tone for the remainder of the Crimson Tide's at bats.
"I really thought that was going to be a good omen for us after that at bat," Murphy said.
In the fifth inning, Abby Duchscherer drew a full-count walk to load the bases with one out after back-to-back singles by Salen Hawkins and Brooke Ellestad. Two batters and one out later, Vandagriff drew a 4-0 walk to send home pinch-runner Kinley Pate and give Alabama the 1-0 lead. A two RBI Johnson single then extended the Crimson Tide's lead to 3-0 through five.
"Duchscherer's walk ... that was huge," Murphy said. "It was full count and she had swung at something before she took it. That's kind of when the floodgates opened."
Alabama finished the game with three walks, with Vandagriff drawing another 4-0 walk in the seventh with two outs.
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First pitch was originally set for 1 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, but the weather had other plans. The game did not get underway until some 3.5 hours later at 4:30 p.m. due to a lengthy weather delay. While the rain was gone by the time play resumed, its lingering effects could still be felt on the field, especially the outfield.
Johnson's two RBIs came from a dropped single in the outfield. Also, Crimson Tide outfielders had to come up big and make lots of plays in the warning tracks with nine Virginia Tech fly outs.
"Couple of the outfielders made plays on the warning track," Murphy said. "You saw how bad, slippery it was out there. We kept our footing. Lauren Johnson made a couple plays, Audrey Vandagriff made a couple plays."
Catelyn Riley made it 6⅓ innings before she was relieved by Jocelyn Briski. Riley took a ball to the shin and gave up a one-out, two-run home run, partially leading to Murphy's decision to relieve Riley along with the fact she would have been up against the top of the Virginia Tech order - led off by NCAA home run leader Cori McMillan.
"I think if she would have finished (Castine), I would have kept her in," Murphy said.
Briski then retired the next two Hokies batters in order, striking out McMillan swinging and forcing a Jordan Lynch foul out to Marlie Giles for out number three.
"That was huge, especially against McMillian," Murphy said. "That was a very confident Briski and a great sequence of pitches too."
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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama softball-Virginia Tech: How Crimson Tide secured super regional bid