The 5th ranked and top seeded Alabama softball team had their backs against the wall this weekend after a day one loss to Tennessee Tech in the NCAA softball Tuscaloosa Regional. Alabama had to win 4 games in two days to continue their season and they did just that. After defeating 2nd seeded Cal and 3rd seeded Florida State on Saturday, the Crimson Tide beat 4th seeded Tennessee Tech twice on Sunday to advance to a NCAA Super Regional. Alabama won Sunday's games 19-10 and 7-2 in front of 1,289 enthusiastic fans at the Alabama Softball Complex to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
Blair Potter was the star of the day as she pitched both games throwing 221 pitches, 146 of them strikes, striking out 16 batters in 12 2/3 innings. Potter allowed four earned runs on 12 hits with three walks to run her record to 20-2.
“If I had to throw a few more I think I could do it,” Potter said. “I didn’t expect to start again, but it’s nice to know the coaches think I can to it.
The Crimson Tide offense also pounded the same pitcher that held them to one run in the tournament's first game. Tennessee Tech’s Bonnie Bynum, who had baffled Alabama and California on the tournament’s first two days, gave up 11 runs (eight earned) on eight hits in eight innings with just one strikeout on the final day.
Alabama (54-8) will now travel approximately 2,645 miles to Seattle, WA to take on the PAC 10's Washington Huskies (38-17), who beat Georgia on Sunday to win the Lincoln (Neb.) Regional, for a best-of-three Super Regional. The NCAA is expected to announce today whether the Super Regional will be played Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday in Seattle.
