The NCAA softball tournament hasn’t exactly been rife with upsets, with only two unseeded teams reaching the super regionals and the higher seed winning six of eight super regional matchups. Alabama bucked that trend.
The Crimson Tide knocked off SEC rival Tennessee despite losing Game 1, walking-off the Volunteers in Game 2 before winning 4-1 in the decisive Game 3. Alabama held Tennessee to just six runs in three games, showcasing run-prevention ability that will be tested against UCLA.
The Bruins easily withstood what was expected to be a tougher challenge from Georgia in the super regionals. UCLA won 8-0 in Game 1 and dominated again in Game 2 with a terrific start from Taylor Tinsley and 4 RBI from Sharlize Palacios.
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Alabama’s chances of extending its run might depend on how well the pitching can limit UCLA’s bats, but the Bruins proved in the super regionals that scoring runs on them is a huge challenge, as well.
Thursday’s winner will face the winner of the matchup between Duke and favored Oklahoma, while the loser will take on whichever team doesn’t prevail in the Duke-Oklahoma battle and face elimination.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from Thursday’s Women’s College…
