KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Kristen White’s infield chopper with the bases loaded allowed Lauren Johnson to score from third and Alabama forced a third game, beating Tennessee 3-2 on Saturday in 14 innings in the longest super regional game in college women’s softball history.
The winner of Sunday’s game will face UCLA at the Women’s College World Series starting Thursday. The sixth-seeded Bruins swept No. 11-seed Georgia in a super regional.
The Crimson Tide’s Johnson led off the bottom of the 14th with a first-pitch single to left field off Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens. Riley Valentine followed with a double to left that Tennessee’s Rylie West just missed catching down the line to put runners at second and third.
Pickens then intentionally walked No. 9 hitter Kali Heivlin to set up a force at home. After fouling off the first pitch, White chopped it to Tennessee shortstop Laura Mealer whose throw home was late, allowing Johnson to score.
It was the longest game in Tennessee’s (44-11) history. Tennessee stranded 18 runners.
Kayla Beaver threw more than 160 pitches in relief for Alabama (37-18) and Pickens threw more than 120 for the Vols.
After reaching on an infield single to shortstop in the bottom of the 12th, White stole second. But with two out, she was thrown out trying to steal third to end the inning. Earlier, in the same inning, Valentine got thrown out after she singled high off the wall and tried to stretch the play into a double.
The Crimson Tide knotted the score at 2 when Bailey Dowling hit a solo homer on a 2-1 pitch in the bottom of the fourth. In the top of the fourth, Tennessee’s Sophia Nugent hit a solo homer for a 2-1 advantage.
TEXAS COMES UP CLUTCH
Texas took a roundabout path to keeping its season alive.
Ashton Maloney knocked in Kayden Henry on a fielder’s choice in the top of the ninth for the go-ahead run as the top-seeded Longhorns beat No. 16 Texas A&M 9-8 in nine innings in Game 2 of the Austin Super Regional on Saturday.
Texas A&M led 5-1 before Texas scored five runs in the sixth inning to take the lead. The Longhorns tacked on two more in the seventh to go up 8-5, and they appeared to be in control.
Texas A&M was down to its last strike in the seventh when Mya Perez’s three-run homer tied the score at 8.
Texas’ Mac Morgan entered the game in the seventh and threw 2⅓ shutout innings to claim the win. Viviana Martinez and Mia Scott both had three hits for the Longhorns.
Jazmine Hill and Rylen Wiggins each had three hits for the Aggies.
Texas A&M pulled a shocker, beating the Longhorns 6-5 in Game 1 on Friday night.
Game 3 will be played Sunday, with the winner heading to the Women’s College World Series. All the series that are tied 1-1 will conclude on Sunday, with the winners advancing to the World Series.
Three-time defending national champion Oklahoma and UCLA clinched World Series spots with victories on Friday night.
UNSEEDED UPSET
Unseeded Baylor upset No. 4 seed Florida 5-2 in Game 2 of the Gainesville Super Regional to tie the series.
Presleigh Pilon and Taylor Strain had two hits and Shaylon Govan knocked in three runs for the Bears.
Rylee Crandall went the distance for Baylor. She gave up two runs on five hits and struck out six.
Skylar Wallace had three of Florida’s five hits and Reagan Walsh added a solo homer for the Gators.
TIGERS ALIVE
Missouri evened its series with Duke, claiming a 3-1 win in Game 2 of the Columbia Super Regional.
The seventh-seeded Tigers scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to go ahead for good.
Lauren Krings got the win in 4⅔ innings and Taylor Pannell had two innings of hitless relief to earn the save.
Jala Wright took the loss for Duke, the No. 10 seed. Cassidy Kurd, who got the win in relief on Friday, gave up one hit and no runs in 3⅔ innings of relief.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
