TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball battled to a 4-3 win over Virginia Tech Saturday at Rhoads Stadium, securing a spot in Sunday’s Regional final.

With a 2-0 record this weekend, Alabama (39-21) will head into Sunday one win away from advancing to Super Regionals, while its opponent will need to defeat the Crimson Tide twice to advance. Alabama will play the winner of Saturday’s final elimination game, with Sunday action starting at 1 p.m. CT.

Virginia Tech (42-12) put up two quick runs in the top of the first with some heads-up baserunning from Brooke Ellestad in the second putting the Tide on the board as she scored all the way from second on a dropped third strike and subsequent throw to first base. With one out and a runner on in the third, Kali Heivilin smashed a two-run home run to center field to give Alabama a 3-2 lead. A fourth inning RBI single from Audrey Vandagriff made it a two-run game but the Hokies’ Kylie Aldridge brought it back within one with a solo home run in the top of the fifth.

With the score still 4-3 in the top of the seventh, a leadoff single immediately put the tying run on base for Virginia Tech. A force out at second base went for out number one, as the batter reached safely on a fielder’s choice and then moved up to second on a groundout to place the tying run in scoring position with two out. With first base open, Hokie slugger Bre Peck was intentionally walked and the next batter flew out to Vandagriff in center to end the game and secure the 4-3 win for Alabama.

“If you’ve seen our previous games against Virginia Tech, you would have known that was the kind of game it would be. It was a great college softball game and that’s how it has been since they’ve started coming down here to play us. They’re a real quality softball team with great coaches.”

Highlights

• Alabama has played in the Regional final every year since the current postseason format was adopted in 2005, advancing to Super Regionals an NCAA-record 18 times
• A regional title would be the Crimson Tide’s 21st all-time, its 19th under the current format
• Kali Heivilin’s home run was her team-leading 14th this season, just one shy of her combined career total from her first three seasons
• Audrey Vandagriff stole her 50th base of the season, becoming just the third player in Alabama history to steal 50 bases

Scoring Summary

• T1 | Bre Peck dropped a bases-loaded single into right field (0-1, 1 Out)
• T1 | Emily LeGette drove in a run with a single to left (0-2, 2 Out)
• B2 | Brooke Ellestad rounded third and came home on a dropped third strike (1-2, 1 Out)
• B3 | Kali Heivilin hit a two-run home run to center field (3-2, 1 Out)
• B4 | Audrey Vandagriff hit an RBI single to left (4-2, 2 Out)
• T5 | Kylie Aldridge hit a solo home run (4-3, 1 Out)

Up Next: NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional

• Saturday, May 17 vs. TBD – 1 p.m. CT