Alabama softball beats Northwestern, 2-1, sets up super regional rubber match

Alabama softball player Ashley Prange (29) hit her first of 2 homers against Missouri at BOGLE park in Fayetteville, Ark on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Photo by Kent Gidley
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Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy called it last night: A Crimson Tide hero would emerge in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Senior third baseman Ashley Prange fulfilled the prophecy in the top of the 7th inning against Northwestern. Her second hit of the game drove home Larissa Preuitt and gave Alabama the separation it needed against a scrappy Wildcats squad.

“We wanted to throw tough pitches. We wanted to challenge her a little bit. She came through for her team,” Northwestern coach Kate Drohan said about the decision to pitch to Prange with first base unoccupied.

Prange, who scored the Tide’s other run, propelled Alabama to a 2-1 win. Like it did a week ago against Middle Tennessee State, Alabama extended its season to a win-or-go-home battle. Sunday’s game between the Crimson Tide and Wildcats will decide a trip to Oklahoma City, Okla. and the Women’s College World Series.

First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.

“I cannot tell you how awesome that crowd is,” Murphy said postgame. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to coach in an atmosphere like this. I just credit the fans for coming out. It’s a late night, Saturday night and magic at the Rhoads house happened. Just a hell of a game between two really good teams. It just was a dog fight.”

Alabama’s offense got out to the early start it would’ve liked on Friday. Prange roped a double to left field and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Bailey Dowling. UA pitcher Jaala Torrence struggled with her control early but escaped a two-on, nobody-out jam in the second inning.

Northwestern loaded the bases again an inning later with three runners reaching base without the ball leaving the dirt. Torrence allowed a pair of infield singles and walked Nikki Cuchran to bring Alabama’s pitching coach to the circle. Eight pitches later, Torrence electrified the crowd by striking out Angela Zedak looking.

With each hit and each strike call, the crowd didn’t relent. Fans packed into the stands and the yard around Rhoads Stadium well before the 8:05 p.m. start time and cheered on the Tide. Alabama’s chances against Lauren Boyd and Friday’s starter Danielle Williams came sparingly, with the Tide wasting chances with runners on the corners and nobody out in the fourth. Alabama then stranded two more in the fifth.

Northwestern eventually took advantage and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a single by Jordyn Rudd that scored a pinch runner. Torrence eventually ran out of gas as her week-long, 26.2-scoreless inning streak concluded and Fouts made her second appearance in as many nights.

“It’s just unreal,” Murphy said of Fouts. “I would say she might be 70%. I’m not sure what she would say. She’d probably say 100% but to me, it feels like her ball looks so heavy when it comes out of her hand now. I don’t know if it’s cause she’s spinning more or what. But a heavy ball in softball is hard to hit and that’s what it looks like to me in the dugout.”

She looked better than she had in her previous 3-plus innings. She allowed none of the eight batters she faced to reach base in what could’ve been her final collegiate appearance.

In a nail-biting finish, Prange’s knock set the table for a thrilling conclusion tomorrow.

“Ashley, Ally (Shipman), Montana. Montana was great after the game yesterday in the locker room. She’s been through so many battles with us, Team USA, you name it, she’s seen it. She’s very level-headed and a great leader so I’m sure one or all of them will have a great message for the team,” Murphy said.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.

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