Grand slam propels Alabama softball past Tennessee to Women's College World Series

Alabama softball punched its second-straight ticket to the Women's College World Series with a 4-1 win over Tennessee on Sunday to win the NCAA super regional series two games to one.

After losing the first game of the series 3-2, the Crimson Tide won Game 2, 3-2, in walk off fashion behind a Kristen White RBI in the bottom of the 14th inning to score Lauren Johnson. In Game 3, behind a Riley Valentine grand slam in the top half of the first inning, Alabama won the game 4-1 and in turn, the series, to clinch a spot in the Women's College World Series.

It marks the fourth time in program history that Alabama has lost game one of a Super Regional series to go onto win the next two and the series, most recently doing so last year vs. Northwestern and before that in 2011 vs. Stanford and 2015 vs. Oklahoma.

It is the Crimson Tide's 15th all-time Women's College World Series bid. It comes after Alabama finished under .500 in conference play for the first time in program history and lost six of its last eight games before the NCAA tournament, including a first-round SEC Tournament exit.

Here are observations and takeaways from Alabama softball (38-18) vs. Tennessee (44-12).

Alabama softball's Riley Valentine first inning grand slam

Riley Valentine came up with another big home run for Alabama, this time a grand slam in the top of the first inning on Sunday to give Alabama the 4-0 lead. It comes just a week after Valentine hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to lead Alabama to a 6-3 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

Valentine's blast over the left center field wall, just out of reach of the glove of Tennessee's Rylie West, scored Kenleigh Cahalan, who singled, along with Jenna Johnson and Marlie Giles, who both were hit-by-pitches. It came with two outs, after Tennessee starting pitcher Payton Gottshall got a quick first two outs, striking out Kristen White and Larissa Preuitt.

It is Valentine's second grand slam of the season, her first coming in a Feb. 25 contest vs. Bradley. Ever since Valentine's two run homer vs. SLU, she has been back in the Crimson Tide's starting lineup as designated player, after having previously filling in at catcher for Marlie Giles.

Prior to Sunday, Valentine had been hitting in the No. 8 spot in the Alabama lineup, when coach Patrick Murphy moved her up to the No. 6 spot, which proved to pay off. So far in the NCAA tournament, Valentine has gone 7-for-17 with eight RBIs.

Kenleigh Cahalan leads collects game-high three hits

From the plate, Kenleigh Cahalan led the Alabama offense, going a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with one run scored.

Cahalan's first hit was a two-out single in the bottom of the first to spark the four-run rally behind Valentine's grand slam. Cahalan singled again in the third and fifth innings and scored one run.

As a whole, the Alabama offense finished with five hits, the other two being Valentine's grand slam and Jenna Johnson single in the fifth inning. Valentine had a game-high four RBIs.

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Kayla Beaver in for relief to hold off Tennessee seventh-inning rally

After throwing 4.0 innings on Saturday, Jocelyn Briski once again started in the circle on Sunday for Alabama.

Briski only gave up two hits and no runs while striking out four across the first six innings of the game. In the seventh inning, she hit leadoff batter McKenna Gibson to put a runner on first with no outs, then gave up back-to-back singles to Sophia Nugent and Taylor Pannell as Tennessee got on the board and made the game 4-1.

Briski got one out with a force out at third base, but Alabama then turned to its bullpen, bringing in Kayla Beaver. Beaver hit pinch-hitter Jamison Brockenbrough on her first pitch thrown to load the bases for Tennessee with one out. Pinch hitter Alannah Leach fouled out on an eight-pitch at bat for the second out, with Kiki Milloy grounded out to third base and Beaver recorded the save.

What's next?

Alabama is one of eight teams in the NCAA to clinch a bid to the Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series is scheduled for May 30- June 6/7 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama softball wins super regional, punches ticket to WCWS