Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy called it last night: A Crimson Tide hero would emerge in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Senior third baseman Ashley Prange fulfilled the prediction in the top of the 7th inning against Northwestern. Her second hit of the game drove home Larissa Preuitt and gave Alabama the separation it needed against a scrappy Wildcats squad.

Prange, who scored the Tide’s other run, propelled Alabama to a 2-1 win. Like it did a week ago against Middle Tennessee State, Alabama extended its season to a win-or-go-home battle. Sunday’s game between the Crimson Tide and Wildcats will decide a trip to Oklahoma City, Okla. and the Women’s College World Series.

First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.

Alabama’s offense got out to the early start it would’ve liked on Friday. Prange roped a double to left field and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Bailey Dowling. UA pitcher Jaala Torrence struggled with her control early but escaped a two-on, nobody-out jam in the second inning.

Northwestern loaded the bases again an inning later with three runners reaching base without the ball leaving the infield dirt. Torrence allowed a pair of infield singles and walked Nikki Cuchran to bring Alabama’s pitching coach to the circle. Eight pitches later, Torrence electrified the crowd by striking out Angela Zedak looking.

With each hit and each strike call, the crowd didn’t relent. Fans packed into the stands and the yard around Rhoads Stadium well before the 8:05 p.m. start time and cheered on the Tide. Alabama’s chances against Lauren Boyd and Friday’s starter Danielle Williams came sparingly, with the Tide wasting runners on the corners and nobody out in the fourth. Alabama then stranded two more in the fifth.

Northwestern eventually took advantage and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a single by Jordyn Rudd that scored a pinch runner. Torrence eventually ran out of gas as her week-long, 26.2-scoreless inning streak concluded and Fouts made her second appearance in as many nights.

She looked better than she had in her previous 3-plus innings. She allowed none of the eight batters she faced to reach base in what could’ve been her final collegiate appearance.

In a nail-biting finish, Prange’s knock set the table for a thrilling conclusion tomorrow.

This post will be updated.