TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ally Shipman had a two-run single, Jenna Johnson drove in what proved to be the winning run with a home run in the fifth inning, and Alabama held off Northwestern 3-2 to win the best-of-three Tuscaloosa Super Regional after a 61-minute lightning delay Sunday, advancing to the Women's College World Series.
Alabama dropped the opener 3-1 on Friday before forcing a third game with a 2-1 victory on Saturday.
The victory in the rubber match earned the fifth-seeded Crimson Tide (45-20) their 11th appearance in the WCWS. Alabama won it all in 2012, winning two of three against Oklahoma in the championship round in Oklahoma City. The Tide were runners-up in 2014, losing two straight games to Florida in the title series.
Shipman gave Alabama the lead for good after play resumed in the bottom of the third. No. 9 hitter Kristen White had an infield single and stole second base. Ashley Prange drew a walk and Johnson beat out a bunt to load the bases. Bailey Dowling then flied out to shallow center field, but Shipman singled down the left-field line on a 0-2 pitch and the Tide led 2-0.
The 12th-seeded Wildcats (42-13), who were aiming for their third WCWS appearance, answered with a run in the top of the fourth on Kelsey Nader's two-out RBI single. Johnson homered to lead off the fifth to push the Alabama lead back to two.
Maeve Nelson hit a solo homer with one out in the ninth for Northwestern, but reliever Montana Fouts retired the next two batters for her 25th win against 10 losses this season. It was the only run Fouts allowed in 3 2/3 innings.
Jaala Torrence started and yielded just one run in 3 1/3 innings.