Rewinding Alabama softball’s 3-2 NCAA super regional win over Northwestern

Five-seed Alabama (44-20) beat 12-seed Northwestern (42-12) in a winner-take-all game, 3-2, to book a trip to the Women’s College World Series.

The Wildcats took game one, 3-1, while the Crimson Tide rallied Saturday night in the seventh inning to win 2-1. On Sunday, Alabama scored a pair in the third inning and never trailed.

Here’s how it happened:

7TH INNING:

Top: Maeve Nelson made it interesting with a solo home run to left field off a light fixture, cutting the Tide’s lead to 3-2. But Fouts would drop to a knee two batters later as she struck out Hannah Cady to give the Tide a historic win.

6TH INNING

Top: a Two-out base runner for Northwestern as Nader appeared to line a ball off Fouts’ glove hand. Alabama was able to retire Nieto, the No. 9 hitter, to limit the threat. Northwestern 1, Alabama 2

Bottom: Alabama went down in order and the crowd reached its feet as the game went into the seventh inning.

5TH INNING

Top: Another leadoff runner for the Wildcats with a Shellmyer single. Nelson bunted Shellmyer over. Rudd, who had delivered two line-drive outs to start the game, was intentionally walked. Fouts got Cuchran to ground out and put Alabama six outs away from Oklahoma City. Northwestern 1, Alabama 2

Bottom: Jenna Johnson hit one off the fair pole in left field to give the Crimson Tide a 3-1 lead.

4TH INNING

Top: Northwestern has had a base runner every inning as Cuchran walked with one out. It started a rally with Angela Zedak’s rip down past first base. It knocked Torrence out of the game and led to Montana Fouts coming in for another relief outing. The Wildcats scored its first run courtesy of Kelsey Nader. She blooped one over the infield to score Bridget Donahey, who had run for Cuchran. Northwestern 1, Alabama 2

Bottom: Alabama worked its leadoff hitter on base but Williams settled to retire the next three batters, including a strikeout of Prange. Northwestern 1, Alabama 2

3RD INNING

Top: Maeve Nelson singled and Rudd hit a line drive to right field but no runs came across. Alabama is still looking for its first hit as we reach the bottom of the third. Northwestern 0, Alabama 0

Bottom: A weather delay lasted about an hour, interrupting Kristen White’s at-bat at a 1-1 count. Alabama has no outs and play resumed at 4:52 p.m. Her infield single was the Tide’s first and was followed by a walk to Prange. Johnson then registered a bunt single and loaded the bases with no outs.

Shipman feigned a bunt then pulled back for a single down the left field line giving Alabama a 2-0 lead. Williams struck out Heivilin to limit the damage.

2ND INNING

Top: Angela Zedak walked with one out in the frame. Kansas Robinson smacked one to left field but Johnson was placed well to make the grab.

Bottom: Williams didn’t let a ball leave the infield and earned a 1-2-3 inning while both bullpens start to get active. Northwestern 0, Alabama 0

1ST INNING

Top: Shellmyer fouled off a couple of pitches and worked an infield single. She advanced to second on a passed ball. Torrence recorded the first two outs without letting the runner advance and capped the frame with a strikeout. Northwestern 0, Alabama 0

Bottom: Prange, last night’s hero, walked to give the Tide a leadoff base runner. Johnson interrupted a streak of five-straight balls by Williams when she bunted Prange to second base. The Tide caught a break when Dowling grounded back to Williams and reached on a fielder’s choice. Williams had tried to get Prange out at third but Northwestern couldn’t execute a run-down. Alabama’s next two hitters couldn’t find grass though, and failed to take an early lead. Northwestern 0, Alabama 0

LINEUPS

Alabama will run back the same lineup as last night: Ashley Prange 3B; Jenna Johnson LF; Bailey Dowling DP; Ally Shipman C; Emma Broadfoot 1B; Kali Heivilin 2B; Kenleigh Cahalan SS; Larissa Preuitt RF; Kristen White CF.

Northwestern changed the top of its order: Skyler Shellmyer CF; Maeve Nelson SS; Jordyn Rudd C; Hannah Cady 3B; Nikki Chuchran 1B; Angela Zedak LF; Kansas Robinson DP; Kelsey Nader RF; Grace Nieto 2B.

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