re: Bama Softball 45-22 (16-11) (2022-23)

That was clutch! NW hadn't lost in a while either, I'm pretty sure.

Gotta bring it hard tomorrow.

I love the Queen to death but if our approach at the plate doesn't change...we will lose.

Murphy has ruined Cahalan already...best swing I've seen since Haley Mc. but she's a .200 hitter... how's that even possible with her SWING. DEVELOPMENT has to get BETTER or else these girls will leave.

SOG...you cutting up tonight lol

I'm glad we battled and pulled it out.

Seventh Inning Rally Gives Alabama 2-1 Win Over Northwestern, Forces Decisive Game Three

The Crimson Tide and Wildcats will play for a spot in Oklahoma City Sunday at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN

Tied at 1-1 in the seventh inning, a go-ahead RBI single from Ashley Prange gave Alabama the lead in the eventual 2-1 win over Northwestern, evening the Super Regional series and forcing a decisive game three on Sunday for a spot in next week's Women's College World Series.

This is the third time in program history that Alabama (44-20) has lost the opening game of a Super Regional series and rallied to take game two. In both previous instances, the Crimson Tide ended up winning game three (2011 vs. Stanford, 2015 vs. Oklahoma). First pitch for game three between Alabama and Northwestern (42-12) is set for 3:05 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Prange started the game with a leadoff double, moving to third on a sac bunt and coming home on a sac fly RBI from Bailey Dowling to put Alabama on the board in the top of the first. Northwestern threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with two out before a 3-2 changeup from Jaala Torrence went for a called strike three as the Wildcats stranded the bases loaded and the Crimson Tide remained in front, 1-0.

Alabama stranded two runners on in both the fourth and fifth innings, unable to add to its one-run lead, before Northwestern tied it up in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out RBI single. Later with two on and one out, Montana Fouts (24-10) entered to pitch and retired the next two to limit the damage to one run as the game was now tied heading to the sixth.

Larissa Preuitt started the top of the seventh with a single to left and was sacrificed into scoring position in the next at-bat. On the third pitch of her at-bat, Prange sent the ball back up the middle as the speedy Preuitt rounded third and slid home to make it a 2-1 game. Down to their final three outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Wildcats went down in order, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Prange was 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, her third two-hit performance in the last four games. Preuitt also had a pair of hits, her eighth multi-hit game of the season. Fouts earned the win in relief, throwing 2.2 shutout innings with three strikeouts.

From Head Coach Patrick Murphy
"That crowd was awesome. It is an unbelievable feeling to coach in an atmosphere like this. I credit the fans for coming out. It was a late Saturday night and magic happened at the Rhoads House. It was a great game between two really good teams. It was a dogfight the whole way and I'm really proud of our bunch. Jaala [Torrence] gave us a good start and Montana [Fouts] is just unreal. [Ashley] Prange got the big hit in the seventh and I thought our defense played really well tonight."

Please forgive my ignorance in asking this question. I'm a Bama grad but have never been to a Bama softball game. My wife and I are going to the game today. We have brickyard tickets. I have two of those padded seats with a back on them for sitting on bleachers (not chairs). Are you allowed to bring something like these into the game? Thank you.

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GeneralWoundwort

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Yes - you can bring those in. Note there are no bleachers in the brickyard.

Also note the lines yesterday were enormous - wrapping around the stadium for both entrances to the brickyard. If you want a prime spot in the brickyard you’ll want to arrive early. You can also try coming into the grand stand and finding an open seat. You might have to move around as folks arrive but it’s rarely 100% full. Even some folks with seats prefer to watch from up top. Hope you enjoy- it was an incredible atmosphere last night. Over 3500 people in attendance.

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Pretty sure it is a timing thing for the hitters but my thoughts on that are …. if that was really a benefit wouldn’t you see a major league hitter doing it?? Pretty sure I never saw Carew, Brett, Boggs or Miguel Cabrera doing it.

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To be fair, softball and baseball timing and swings are not the same. Take it from someone who is a baseball nerd and had learned that the hard way with 2 competitive softball players who started with baseball swings taught by dad that were quickly dismantled

But I still think the fake bunt this is archaic and stupid.

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This team is one win away from OKC which is amazing considering their inability to move runners over and then get them home. 245 BA in SEC play and 275 overall BA. Great pitching can get you only so far.

Should we win today, and I believe we will, our first game is vs UT as the 4th seed. They are playing good right now. Should we win that one then is OK the second game?

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I hate to say this, but we have no business in Oklahoma City.
Use injuries, poor coaching, lack of talent, or ALL of the above; Alabama, I'm afraid, is a mercy-ruled team getting ready to happen, if they end up there.
I sure hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so.