Alabama beats Michigan in opener of NCAA softball Super Regional
No. 2-ranked Alabama rode the pitching of Jackie Traina to a 4-1 victory over Michigan on Thursday in the opening game of their NCAA Softball Super Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala.,
The Wolverines must beat the Tide (54-7) twice on Friday to take the best-of-three series and advance to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. If the Tide wins either of those games on Friday, it will clinch one of the eight spots in Oklahoma City.
Traina improved her record to 36-2 by yielding just three hits while walking four and striking out 10. The Wolverines (42-16) scored their only run in the sixth inning and got two runners on in the seventh before Traina struck out Nicole Sappingfield to end the game.
Jennifer Fenton went 3-for-3 for Alabama, which has won seven games in a row, and Kaila Hunt had a two-run double in the Tide's three-run fifth inning.
