Bama upsets Tennessee to earn berth to College World Series:
GDW Analysis:
TUSCALOOSA: Alabama was not phased of having to face SEC rival Tennessee in the NCAA softball super regional in order to move onward to the College World Series.
Alabama, 9th in the SEC standings, showed poise in taking two straight from the SEC champion Lady Vols this weekend.
The Crimson Tide outlasted Tennessee 3 to 2 in 14 innings Saturday and then withstood weather issues and the Lady Vols Sunday evening to claim a 4 to 1 victory and win the series in three games.
“The word for me the last few weeks has been ‘redemption’, coach Pat Murphy said.. We had our first losing season in SEC play in 28 years. I kept preaching to the team that the best was yet to come. We had to believe it and that belief started with me. One day at practice everybody said one thing they were going to do to help the team win down the stretch. Mine was to have a short-term memory. I tend to dwell so I committed to it that day. The team bought in too. Now we’re heading to our 15th Women’s College World Series. I said last year was my most gratifying year but I have to say it again this year. I could not be happier for our team, the University and our athletic department. A lot of Alabama Softball fans weren’t sure about this year but the true fans stuck with us.”
Riley Valentine sent Alabama in front Sunday with a grand slam in the 1st.
The Tide was able to keep Tennessee out of sync, shutting out the Lady Vols until they scored their only run in the last of the 7th.
Alabama enters the CWS for the 15th time in school history and the third time in the last four years.
The Tide will face UCLA in the first game from Oklahoma City Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
Joining the Tide from the SEC is Florida. The Lady Gators had to go into a 3rd game in their super regional in Gainesville with Baylor. Florida won 5 to 3 Sunday.
Florida takes on Oklahoma State in its opener Thursday at 8:30 p.m. CST.
Alabama has a record of 37 & 18 overall, Florida is 51 & 13 in making it to the CWS.
Photo of Alabama softball Sunday in super regional at Tennessee.
Photo courtesy of Alabama media relations.
