The Alabama softball team will travel to an NCAA-record 19th Super Regional round next weekend after edging the Virginia Tech Hokies, 3-2, in Sunday’s Regional championship at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Tide will face No. 2 seed Oklahoma at the Sooners’ home stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, with game dates and times still to be determined.
With the win on Sunday, the Crimson Tide (40-21) captured its 21st NCAA Regional title and 17th undefeated Regional weekend since the current postseason format was adopted in 2005.
“I want to thank everyone here for running a great Regional and congrats to Virginia Tech on a great year. They’re a very classy team, the coaching staff and the players are awesome,” said Alabama head softball coach Patrick Murphy.
Alabama and Virginia Tech (42-13) were on the field ready to start the game when lightning forced a three-and-a-half-hour delay. After the game started, both teams had opportunities early but couldn’t break into the run column until the Crimson Tide loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. A two-out walk from Audrey Vandagriff plated the first run of the game before Lauren Johnson added two more with a single to shallow left, making it 3-0 Crimson Tide.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hokies started a late rally with a two-run home run by Rachel Castine. Alabama’s Jocelyn Briski entered to pitch in the save situation, striking out NCAA home run leader Cori McMillan and forcing a popup in foul territory to end the game.
“It was a great final game of the weekend,” Murphy added. “For this team to get to 40 wins is one of the best accomplishments we’ve had as a program. It’s just very satisfying to see that ‘4-0’ right behind ‘Alabama.’” TG
Photos courtesy UA Athletics
