Alabama softball beats Oklahoma 8-6 to force winner-take-all third game on Wednesday

With its back against the wall and the pressure through the roof, the Alabama softball team knocked off Oklahoma 8-6 to force a third and final game of the WCWS Championship Series.

The Tide was led by sophomore Jackie Traina in the circle and in the batter’s box. She struck out eight batters, earned her 41st win of the season and drove in three runs on two hits.

Alabama jumped on Keilani Ricketts early in the game and forced the Sooners to change pitchers during the fourth inning.

Ricketts gave up six runs on three hits, but that wasn’t the most telling statistic of the night for her. She hit five batters, and that is what ultimately gave the Tide a chance to win the game.

The second and fourth innings were the only two innings that Alabama scored in, but the four runs in each frame were more than enough to earn the victory. The Sooners fought back in the seventh inning on a few timely hits, but the five runs scored were not enough to crawl back and win.

Tomorrow’s championship game will begin at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN and ESPN3.