Hours of rain delays did little to delay what has become an inevitability for May in Tuscaloosa. The Alabama softball team advanced to its 14th straight NCAA super regional on Sunday, beating Oregon State 6-0 to complete a perfect run in the Tuscaloosa Regional.
The victory was Alabama’s 37th consecutive win in a regional, the longest streak in the nation dating back to 2007. The No. 12 Crimson Tide will now advance to the Seattle Super Regional where it will face No. 5 Washington in a best-of-three series for a trip to the Women’s College World Series.
The only thing slowing down Alabama (36-18) this weekend was the weather. The Crimson Tide’s 8-0 win over Middle Tennessee on Friday night began at 9:42 p.m CT after rain pushed back the regional’s opener between Wisconsin and Oklahoma State. Saturday, a three-hour rain delay elongated Alabama’s 9-1 blowout of Wisconsin.
After a three-hour weather delay Sunday, Alabama wasted no time getting on the board. Ellisa Brown led off the game with a walk followed by a single from Demi Turner. A one-out double down the left-field line from Bailey Hemphill scored both runners and provided all the offense Alabama would need on the afternoon. Alabama added two more runs in the fifth inning before a two-run home run by Merris Schroder in the sixth blew the game open.
That was more than enough for Alexis Osorio, who came two outs away from registering her eighth career no-hitter in the circle. The senior’s rise ball was nearly untouchable as she struck out nine batters while surrendering just one hit and two walks over a complete seven innings. Osorio’s no-hitter was broken up by Hope Brandner, who laced a single to left with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Unfazed, the pitcher responded by fanning the next two batters before pumping both her fists and hugging the rest of her Alabama teammates.
Alabama will now look to make its 12th WCWS appearance. In order to do so, it will need to get past a Washington team it has already lost to twice this season. The Crimson Tide traveled to Seattle for the Husky Classic in early March, falling to the Huskies 8-0 in five innings before losing 4-1.
Game 1 of the Seattle Super Regional will be on Friday at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU. Game 2 will be on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. If necessary, a third game will be held on Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
