Jena Young hit two home runs as top-seeded Alabama defeated South Carolina Upstate 9-0 in an NCAA softball regional final on Sunday at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Young led the offensive onslaught for Alabama, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Audrey Vandagriff also had a strong day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Brooke Wells went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a run-scoring double.

The Crimson Tide broke the game open early, with Vandagriff hitting a two-run homer in the second inning before Young and Wells added home runs in the third to extend the lead to 5-0. Salen Hawkins also contributed an RBI single in the seventh, and Young capped the scoring with her second homer of the day, a two-run shot in the seventh.

Pitcher Vic Moten pitched effectively for the Crimson Tide, throwing six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five. Moten carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before it was broken up by a single from Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan. Alea Johnson pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out one, to close out the combined one-hit shutout.

The Spartans, who were making their first ever appearance in a regional final, could not generate any offense against the Crimson Tide's pitching. SCU starting pitcher Maddie Drerup allowed five runs on four hits in two innings of work.

With the victory, Alabama advanced to its 20th super regional in program history, the most all time in Division I. Alabama will host the winner of the Baton Rouge Regional. 

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