Jaala Torrence Answers the Bell For Alabama in Tuscaloosa Regional

At one of the most important junctures of the softball season, the junior right-hander has been clutch for the Crimson Tide.

Will Miller | May 21, 2023

Alabama Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama softball team is playing to win the Tuscaloosa Regional on Sunday, and by advancing secure another weekend at home as a super regional host in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The 12-run offensive explosion on Saturday sealed the deal on that.

The second game wasn't perfect, though, not by any means.

"I call it yo-yo softball," head coach Patrick Murphy said of the back-and-forth start to the contest between the Crimson Tide and Middle Tennessee, "which we don't want."

"It's back-and-forth, like a tennis match. You don't want that."

But the coach did get what he wanted, seeing a pitcher step up with ace Montana Fouts dealing with a hyperextended knee. Although starting pitcher Alex Salter wasn't at her best, giving up a pair of solo shots in the first two innings before eventually yielding three more, Jaala Torrence was — despite being fresh off a complete-game win on Friday night against Long Island.

There were no further Blue Raider runs as things finally tipped Alabama's way for good in the 12-5 victory at Rhoads Stadium. Torrence finished out the game, going 4.2 innings with just one hit and four strikeouts.

"I think it's just motivation on both sides, on the pitching side and the hitting side," sophomore second baseman Kali Heivilin said. "We have a lot of motivation when we know someone has our back, and they have a lot of motivation when they know we have theirs. I think that combination is really what drove us."

Torrence's performance took a ton of weight off of her team's shoulders. With Fouts unavailable Saturday, and senior left-hander Lauren Esman still in reserve (although Murphy suggested postgame that that fact may soon change), Alabama didn't want to go to a third arm after Salter's early exit.

Once Alabama had finished its gargantuan eight-run fourth inning, Torrance kept Middle Tennessee from drawing even a single run closer. In two games she's thrown 11.2 scoreless innings, with just five hits allowed, along with two walks and nine strikeouts. She's 8-2, and her ERA has dropped to 2.28.

While much is still to be determined, if Alabama does win the regional, Torrence rising to the occasion will go down as a massive part of what made that happen, and make a strong possibility to pitch again in the next round.

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