Alabama softball has earned its third-straight bid to NCAA super regionals after taking down Virginia Tech, 3-2, on Saturday in the Tuscaloosa Regional final.
Alabama held the 3-0 lead for two innings over the Hokies before a seventh inning, one-out, two-run home run made it a 3-2 game. Jocelyn Briski then entered in relief, recording the final two outs as Alabama won the Tuscaloosa Regional and punched its 19th NCAA super regional bid. Lauren Johnson led Alabama with two hits and two RBIs. The
No. 15 overall seed Crimson Tide went 3-0 through NCAA regional play, opening it up with an 8-0 run-rule win over Jackson State on Friday before defeating Virginia Tech, 4-3, on Saturday to earn a spot in the regional championship. Alabama will now travel to Norman, Oklahoma to take on No. 2 Oklahoma in NCAA super regionals. It will be the Crimson Tide’s second-time facing the
Sooners this season, defeating them 2-1 in an SEC series in April in Oklahoma. Here is how Alabama (40-21) vs. Virginia Tech (42-13) played out in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional final.
Alabama softball vs Virginia Tech in Tuscaloosa Regional championship: Score updates, game highlights
Jocelyn Briski got the final two outs, striking out McMillan while Jordan Lynch fouled out to Marlie Giles, as Alabama won 3-2. The Crimson Tide earned its third-straight super regional appearance and 19th total. After Catelyn Riley gave up a one-out, two-run home run, Jocelyn Briski entered the circle for the Crimson Tide. Alabama leads 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and needs just one out to secure a spot in super regionals. Riley pitched 6 ⅔ innings, giving up two runs off of eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Mari Hubbard had a lead off double and Audrey Vandagriff drew a two-out 4-0 walk but the two were left stranded. Heading to the bottom of the seventh, Alabama leads 3-0. Virginia Tech was unable to capitalize off a Kylie Aldridge leadoff single, with a double play ending the inning. Alabama leads 3-0 through six. Catelyn Riley took Virginia down in order with a line out, pop up and fly out. Salen Hawkins ripped another leadoff single to left field followed by a near-perfect Brooke Ellestad bunt to put two on with no outs for Alabama. Mari Hubbard flied out for out number one before Emma Lemley issued a full-count walk to Abby Duchscherer to load the bases with one out. Larissa Preuitt flied out for out number two but Lemley then walked Audrey Vandagriff on a 4-0 count to score Hawkins and give Alabama the 1-0 lead. Lauren Johnson then hit a two RBI single to right center to add to the Crimson Tide's lead. Kali Heivilin flied out to right for the third out as Alabama holds the 3-0 lead midway through the fifth. Riley again gave up two, two-out hits, this time two singles, but again got out of the inning after a fly out. Lauren Johnson led the inning off with a single but was caught out after Kali Heivilin hit a line drive into third. Marlie Giles then flied out and that was all for the Crimson Tide in the fourth. Riley gave up two hits, a single and double, both coming with two outs to put runners in scoring position. The two were left stranded, though, as Kylie Aldridge flied out to center field for the third out. The Crimson Tide again went down in order, with both Abby Duchscherer and Audrey Vandagriff striking out looking. Larissa Preuitt grounded out into first base. Since Vandagriff's leadoff triple, Alabama has gone 0-9. Riley gave up on hit – a Trinity Martin single – but that was all for the Hokies as they left stranded. It was a strikeout-fly out-foul out inning for Alabama as Salen Hawkins, Brooke Ellestad and Mari Hubbard went down in order. It was a strikeout-groundout-strikeout inning for Alabama starter Catelyn Riley. Audrey Vandagriff led things off with a triple to right center after a 10-pitch at bat. But that was all for the Crimson Tide in the first after Lauren Johnson fouled out while Kali Heivilin and Marlie Giles struck out. Virginia Tech and Alabama are set to officially get underway at 4:30 p.m. CT following a lengthy weather delay. Virginia Tech is the designated home team while Alabama is away. The start of Alabama vs. Virginia Tech is delayed due to lightning within the area. New first pitch time has yet to be announced but the delay will be at least 30 minutes.
Alabama softball vs Virginia Tech live score updates
How to watch Alabama softball vs Virginia Tech in NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional championship?
Alabama vs. Virginia Tech in the Tuscaloosa Regional championship will be on SEC Network. It can be streamed on
ESPN+ which offers a free trial.
What time do Alabama softball and Virginia Tech play today?
Alabama and Virginia Tech will get started at 4:30 p.m.
