KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Softball came from behind to beat Alabama 3-2 in Game 1 of the NCAA Tournament Super Regional on Friday inside Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The Lady Vols fell behind quickly. Kristen White hit a single and reached third base on errors, and shortly after scored on a wild pitch. The Crimson Tide led 1-0. That would be all the damage allowed as Karlyn Pickens dealt two strikeouts and forced a groundout after that.
Alabama would strike again in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Riley Valentine singled to second base, beat out the throw and Marlie Giles scored from second base. The Crimson Tide led 2-0.
In the top of the third inning, White got on by beating out a hit to third base. Then after an error, the Crimson Tide had runners on first and second base with no outs. After a groundout, Alabama advanced runners to second and third base with one out.
Pickens forced another groundout and then came up with a big strikeout as the Lady Vols got out of the top half of the third inning still down 2-0.
The Lady Vols got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning and took the lead.
Gabby Leach reached base on a fielding error and Rylie West scored as a result. Then Laura Mealer then hit a two-run home run to put UT up 3-2.
Alabama put a runner on first in the top of the sixth inning and then Bailey Dowling hit a double to left field. Rylie West threw a missile to third base to get Giles out, to keep only one runner in scoring position. It proved costly because Lauren Esmon singled on the next at-bat, but no runs were scored.
The Lady Vols closed the inning defensively to keep the lead.
They took that lead into the top of the seventh inning. They didn't allow a runner on and closed the game out. They won 3-2.
The Lady Vols and Crimson Tide will play Game 2 on Saturday at 3 p.m. If UT wins they advance to the Women's College World Series.
