Softball Instant Analysis: Alabama 2, Northwestern 1
Alabama hasn't generated much offense in this softball super regional. That was an issue on Friday in a 3-1 loss to Northwestern.
On Saturday, behind a raucous crowd of 3,502 fans, No. 5 seed Alabama didn't need a breakout offense. Instead, it used the steady pitching of Jaala Torrence and Montana Fouts to lift the Crimson Tide to a 2-1 win to force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday at 3 p.m.
"I can't tell you how awesome that crowd is," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "It is an unbelievable environment to coach in an atmosphere like that. It was a hell of a game between two really good teams. Jaala gave us a really good start and Montana—she's just unreal.
Torrence, who entered the game having not allowed in a run in her last 22 innings, pitched four innings of shutout ball until the fifth. She gave up one run on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Fouts pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and shut down the Wildcats' bats. She struck out three and didn't give up a hit to earn the win.
Ashley Prange started the game off with a double from the leadoff spot. She later scored for the first run. She knocked in the winning run in the top of the seventh on a single off Northwestern ace Danielle Williams.
First base was open, but Northwestern pitched to Prange instead. She came through with the single that scored Larissa Preuitt, who led off the inning with a single.
"Prange did the rest on the big hit in the seventh and I thought our defense played really well tonight," Murphy said.
