Reliving the Biggest Moments of Alabama's Super Regional
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — There was very little drama around college softball in the opening days of super regionals. At every site except for Tuscaloosa and Salt Lake City, the series were handled in two games.
The team that wins the first game in the best of three series goes on to win Supers more than 80% of the time. But Alabama was determined to buck that statistic.
After No. 12 Northwestern opened the series at Rhoads Stadium with a 3-1 win Friday night, the Crimson Tide bounced back to win the second game 2-1.
Then, Sunday afternoon, Alabama beat the the Wildcats 3-2 to punch the final ticket to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Here are some of the biggest moments that led to Alabama's ultimate success in super regionals:
The return of Montana Fouts
Alabama Athletics
Game one did not result in Alabama's favor, but it marked something significant: the appearance of Montana Fouts in the circle for the first time in two weeks.
Fouts wasn't sure she would ever be able to pitch with the Crimson Tide again after a knee injury in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. Thanks to the entire athletic training staff at Alabama all the way from the top in head athletic trainer Jeff Allen down to team trainer Esi Atinkah and the UA doctors, it was a team effort getting Fouts to a health level where she could pitch.
Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said after the Saturday game that Fouts was likely at around 70%, but Fouts herself said she felt like a million bucks. Having the fifth-year senior, dominant pitcher and heart and soul of the program helped the team not only on the field, but from a mental aspect as well.
Torrence stranding the bases loaded in Game 2
An Ashley Prange double and sacrifice fly from Bailey Dowling helped Alabama grab a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2, but it was still a low-scoring affair. In an elimination game, Alabama was relying on Jaala Torrence in the circle, and she delivered for the second straight weekend.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the third inning of Saturday night's game and had the chance to put a big number up with their home run leader at the plate. Angela Zedak had already hit a home run for the Wildcats in the first game.
She wouldn't be so fortunate this time. Torrence froze her looking at the pitch on the outer corner to strand the bases loaded and preserve the Alabama lead at the time.
Prange's game-winning hit to force Game 3
After dropping the first game, Alabama needed to get to Sunday in order to have any shot at getting back to Oklahoma City. And the Crimson Tide wouldn't have gotten to Sunday without Prange.
The fifth-year third baseman was moved back into the leadoff spot for the first time in a few weeks. Her double in the first inning of game two set the tone, and her single in the seventh inning to score Larissa Preuitt won the game.
Shipman's big base hit
Speaking of timely hits, another fifth-year stepped up in a big moment for the Crimson Tide.
In the first two games of the series, Alabama was batting .090 with runners in scoring position and was hitless so far on the day. With bases loaded and one out in a scoreless game, the Crimson Tide desperately needed someone to come through with a hit.
After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Shipman ripped one down the left field line off the base of the wall to score two runs, giving Alabama its largest lead of the series. It also gave a huge boost to the crowd that had just sat through an hour-long weather delay.
Johnson's insurance home run
After getting moved out of the leadoff spot, it would have been easy for Jenna Johnson to keep her head down and be frustrated. Instead, she kept battling in the two-hole for the Crimson Tide.
She had a bunt single earlier in the game that set up the RBI hit for Shipman, and Johnson would soon get an RBI chance of her own.
As the leadoff batter in the fifth inning, Johnson cranked a 1-2 pitch down the left field line and was able to keep it just fair enough as it clanked off the foul pole for her fourth home run of the season. At the time, it gave Alabama a 3-1 lead. That run was needed as the Wildcats had a solo home run of their own in the seventh inning, and Johnson's home run proved to be the winning run.
The final out
Was there a more fitting end to the script of Fouts' career in Rhoads Stadium? It was only right that a Fouts strikeout was the final play that sent Alabama back to the Women's College World Series for the third time in her career.
