TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama softball will head to an NCAA-record 19th Super Regional round next weekend after defeating Virginia Tech, 3-2, in Sunday’s Tuscaloosa Regional championship at Rhoads Stadium.

With the win, Alabama (40-21) claims its 21st NCAA Regional title and its 17th undefeated Regional weekend since the current postseason format was adopted in 2005. The Crimson Tide will travel to Norman, Okla., to face No. 2 seed Oklahoma in Super Regionals. Game dates and times are still to be determined.

Alabama and Virginia Tech (42-13) were on the field ready to start the game, when lightning in the area forced a delay of three-and-a-half hours. Both teams had their opportunities but couldn’t break into the run column until Alabama loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. A two-out walk from Audrey Vandagriff plated the first run of the game before Lauren Johnson added two more with a single to shallow left to make it 3-0. The score remained 3-0 heading to the bottom of the seventh for the Hokies, who looked to start a late rally with a two-run home run from Rachel Castine with one out in the inning. Jocelyn Briski entered to pitch in the save situation, striking out NCAA home run leader Cori McMillan for out number two before Marlie Giles tracked down a popup in foul territory for out number three.

FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK MURPHY

“I want to thank everyone here for running a great Regional and congrats to Virginia Tech on a great year. They’re a very classy team, the coaching staff and the players are awesome. I told a couple of them I can’t wait to see them back at Rhoads this summer playing in the AUSL. It was a great final game of the weekend. For this team to get to 40 wins is one of the best accomplishments we’ve had as a program. It’s just very satisfying to see that ‘4-0’ right behind ‘Alabama'”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Alabama will advance to its NCAA-best 19th Super Regional round since the postseason format was adopted in 2005
• The NCAA Regional title is the Crimson Tide’s 21st overall and its 19th in the current postseason format
• With a 3-0 weekend record, this is Alabama’s 17th undefeated Regional round under the current format
• Abby Duchscherer’s sixth-inning unassisted double play was Alabama’s 31st double play of the season, further improving on its single-season record total

SCORING SUMMARY

• T5 | Audrey Vandagriff drew a bases-loaded walk (1-0, 2 Out)
• T5 | Lauren Johnson dropped a single into shallow left, scoring two (3-0, 2 Out)
• B7 | Rachel Castine hit a two-run home run (3-2, 1 Out)

UP NEXT: AT NO. 2 OKLAHOMA – NORMAN SUPER REGIONAL (NORMAN, OKLA.)

• Dates, Times and TV assignments are TBD

– UA –