As approaching rain and storms threatened Alabama’s easy path through the NCAA softball tournament Tuscaloosa regional, so did Middle Tennessee State — for three innings.

The Blue Raiders twice took leads early Saturday afternoon over the hosting Tide in Rhoads Stadium, but collapsed in the top of the fourth inning to allow eight runs and position Alabama for what became a 12-5 victory.

The storm clouds held off, and Alabama avoided both a rain delay and having to play two extra games to emerge from its regional. Instead, the Tide will next play Sunday at 1 p.m. CT, with a win advancing Alabama to its 17th NCAA super regional in the past 18 completed seasons.

Middle Tennessee State will play the winner of Saturday afternoon’s elimination game between Central Arkansas LIU. Whichever team emerges would need to beat Alabama twice Sunday to upset the tournament’s No. 5 overall seed and win the regional.

Alabama, which had won 44 consecutive regional games before losing two last May to be eliminated, faced resistance Saturday from the Conference USA champions. Middle Tennessee State retired Alabama’s first seven batters while hitting solo home runs in the first and second innings, taking a 2-0 lead into the third inning.

The Tide broke through in the third inning by scoring four runs on nine plate appearances, including a two-RBI double by Bailey Dowling. But the Blue Raiders chased Alabama starter Alex Salter in the bottom of the inning after four runners reached base and one scored.

Jaala Torrence, who pitched all seven innings of Alabama’s 5-0 shutout of LIU on Friday night, entered for Salter with Montana Fouts still sidelined by a hyperextended left leg. Torrence allowed two more runs to score, both credited to Salter, as MTSU re-took a 5-4 lead into the fourth inning.

But the wheels came off for the Blue Raiders in the top of the fourth inning, which lasted more than 35 minutes and saw 14 batters come to the plate for Alabama. Kali Heivilin hit a two-run homer to give Alabama a 6-5 lead and Dowling plated two more runs on a single. Then five consecutive walks followed by a wild pitch scored four more runs for Alabama as MTSU cycled through four different pitchers in the frame.

That 12-5 score turned into the final as both teams cruised through the final three-and-a-half innings. Torrence finished with one hit allowed in four and two-thirds innings, and she has not allowed a run through 11 and two-thirds innings pitched in the regional.

Murphy confirmed after the game that Fouts was not available to play.

“Obviously the hitters, I hope, will take a little bit of responsibility, the defense, and then — we try not to pile Jaala, Salt and Lauren Esman, who you haven’t seen but you probably will,” he said. “They can’t take it as ‘We’ve got to win one for the Gipper here.’ It’s just, go out and do your thing. Don’t try to do too much. Because if you try to do too much, you’re probably not gonna do too well. Just stay within yourself. No roller coaster ride of emotions, just do what you do best.

“I think the pitchers, for sure — Jaala, for sure, has done that for the first two days.”

This story will be updated.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.