Williams gives up 1 run on 6 hits, Zedak hits solo homer; Northwestern takes Game 1 at Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Danielle Williams gave up a run on six hits with six strikeouts, Angela Zedak hit a solo home run and No. 12 seed Northwestern beat fifth-seeded Alabama 3-1 Friday night in Game 1 of a best-of-three series at the Tuscaloosa Super Regional.

Northwestern (42-11), which has won eight games in a row, can secure a trip to the 2023 Women's College World Series, which begins June 1, with a win in Game 2 on Saturday.

Zedak hit a two-out solo homer in the top of the second to open the scoring, Nader singled to open the third and later scored on Jordyn Rudd's infield single and Zedak scored on a single by Nader in the fourth to give Northwestern 3-0 lead.

Kristen White hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth for No. 5 seed Alabama but Williams (23-1) allowed just one hit — and faced the minimum batters — from there.

Nader finished 2 for 2 with a walk and a run.

Jaala Torrence came on in relief of starter Montana Fouts and pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing two hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch with no runs and three strikeouts for Alabama (43-20).

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