Alabama proved it could hang with the No. 1 team in the country on Saturday. But miscues, controversial check swings and home runs put the Tide on the brink of elimination in the NCAA Super Regional.

To extend its season to a Game 3 on Monday, the 16-seed Tide (43-20) will need to beat Wake Forest (51-10) at David F. Couch Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST.

AL.com is in Winston-Salem, N.C., and will have live updates as ESPN and ESPN+ handle the broadcast. Follow along.

2ND INNING

Top: A walk to eight-hitter Bennett Lee came back to bite McNairy. Hawke ripped a two-run shot and posed after making contact. 5-2, Wake Forest.

1ST INNING

Top: Tommy Hawke started the game with another extra-base hit, this time a double down the right-field line. Nick Kurtz capitalized a batter later with a two-run home run to right field. Brock Wilken then sent a hanging slider to deep left field for a 3-0 Demon Deacons lead.

Bottom: Just like yesterday, Alabama answered the next half-inning. Jim Jarvis legged out a double and Andrew Pinckney launched a two-run home run to left field. A double play ended the inning. Alabama trails Wake Forest, 3-2.

LINEUPS

–Alabama will turn to Athens, Ala., native Jacob McNairy on the bump. The graduate student is coming off his best start of the year against Boston College in the Tuscaloosa regional: 7 2/3 innings pitched, three hits, three walks and 11 strikeouts. Interim coach Jason Jackson is also rolling out the same lineup that bashed three home runs yesterday.

–Vanderbilt is riding with lefty Josh Hartle. He has a 2.59 ERA across 90.1 innings with a 10-2 record. Demon Deacons coach Tom Walter has inserted Lucas Costello (.307 batting average) for Adam Cecere in the lineup.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].