Down to its final out, Alabama was a throw from shortstop away from disaster. But instead of Troy celebrating an NCAA regional upset, the fourth Trojan error of the night proved the most costly.

The misguided throw from Tremayne Cobb Jr. allowed two runs to score, giving Alabama a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. A sold-out Sewell-Thomas Stadium exploded as Caden Rose scored the go-ahead run as Cobb clutched his head in disbelief seated in the infield dirt.

The Crimson Tide (42-19) tacked on two additional runs to escape with an incredibly improbable 11-8 win.

Alabama now advances to the 8 p.m. CT Sunday regional title game to face the winner of a Troy-Boston College elimination game at 2 p.m.

Troy falls to 40-21 in a loss that will sting. Of Alabama’s 11 runs, seven were earned as defensive miscues dotted the Trojans’ night. Cobb’s potential game-ending throw to first came with a double clutch with the ailing Seidl running to first and Rose and Will Hodo scoring from third and second, respectively.

“I thought I could get there,” Troy first baseman William Sullivan said of his part in the fateful play. “And I wasn’t able to.”

Rose offered his perspective on the sequence that led to him scoring what would be the game-winning run.

“I mean, we’re down by one, they hit the ball and I do a little shimmy in front of the shortstop trying to make something happen,” Rose said. “I get to third base and they throw it away and I’m all out trying to score and take the lead. Just playing ball.”

The whole rally began with Alabama interim coach Jason Jackson opting to pinch-hit Hodo for Mac Guscette. He worked a full-count walk before Rose also drew a free base. Jim Jarvis then flew out to center with Rose moving to second and Hodo to third to set up the game-changing error.

Troy coach Skylar Meade said the team must rally around Cobb after the errant throw.

“Tre turned the corner and became a superstar in batting practice when we played here one night in April,” Meade said. “His confidence has been through the roof. What we said was ‘Hey man, you have to stay present in the moment here and his teammates did a superb job. And I know it’s tough to take that information in in the moment because you’re hurting so much. But you hurt because you care and I can live with guys that care that much.”

The hosts certainly had their opportunities before the ninth-inning magic.

Alabama left 13 runners on base compared to three for a Trojan lineup that delivered when it mattered most until a double-play ended it. The Sun Belt school went 7-for-13 with runners on (.538) and 4-for-7 when they were in scoring position (.571).

Unlike in Friday’s win over Nicholls State, Alabama didn’t get off to a slow start at the plate. A two-run, second-inning homer to right center by No. 9 batter Caden Rose was the opening shot in what became an offensive outburst.

Troy responded with a five-run third punctuated by Sullivan’s three-run homer to left that made it 5-2, Trojans.

That, however, wouldn’t last as a four-run fourth put the Tide back ahead, 6-5. Dominic Tamez’s single to right center scored Tommy Seidl to put the Tide up a run.

After Andrew Pinckney’s monster homer in the top of the sixth pushed the Tide up 7-6, Troy loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half. The two runs that followed came via Shane Lewis’ single to right and Myers’ sac fly to deep center.

But the lead didn’t hold and it clearly burns in the Troy locker room. The four errors proved fatal.

“This is the game we wanted all year,” centerfielder Kole Myers said. “We had it in our hands and we let it slip away.”

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.