NCAA Regional: Alabama Softball Run-Rules Middle Tennessee 8-0

ATHENS - AUGUST 17: Lori Harrigan of USA pitches against China during a preliminary softball game August 17, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
ATHENS - AUGUST 17: Lori Harrigan of USA pitches against China during a preliminary softball game August 17, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) /
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Alabama softball got the Tuscaloosa Regional started with a bang, run-ruling Middle Tennessee 8-0 in six innings.

The explosive potential of the Alabama softball team was unleashed late Friday night, making the Tide a threat for any team.

After a delay from the previous game going to extras and some lightning in the area, Alabama vs. Middle Tennessee finally started at 9:42 in front of a packed crowd at Rhoades Stadium. That didn’t seem to deter Alabama. A great start in the first, a big inning in the third and a solo home run from Peyton Grantham in the sixth won the day for Alabama Softball.

In what might be the cleanest game they have played in recent memory, Alabama softball is peaking at the exact right time.

“Where has this team been?!”

It’s easy to look through Alabama’s schedule this season, look at the results and determine what kind of season Alabama had. Inconsistent and error-prone come to mind immediately. Not ready for the big shots.

It had been a very long time since we had seen Alabama softball run-rule a team. In a program as storied as Alabama’s, it’s strange to not see so many run-ruled games. That is the games, where Alabama wasn’t the losing party, in those run-rules.

Friday night changed that a bit. There wasn’t one explosive play that brought Alabama the win. The scoring burst was simply hits, bringing in one to two runs at a time. There were no multiple-run home runs or Alabama grand slams. Alabama softball had eight total hits in the day. That’s balance in your lineup, especially facing when facing the lefty pitcher MTSU put up.

It wasn’t just offense. Gettins pitched all six innings, with five hits recorded and a shutout to boot. The defense was very methodical save for an error from Grantham. Alabama got into jams, sure, but they continued to grind and save the shutout.

Alabama softball isn’t just about “Survive and Advance”. They are more privy to “Thrive and Advance.”

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Alabama will now advance to play Wisconsin, who won an extra-inning game with Oregon State after a big eighth inning. The game starts at 1:30 pm CT and has been announced to run on ESPN2. If Alabama wins that, they will advance to the Regional Championship, facing whoever comes out of the losers bracket.