It took until the bottom of the ninth inning but the University of Alabama defeated Georgia Southern University’s softball team 2-1.

UA came into the game ranked second in the ESPN/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25, but the defending Southern Conference champion Eagles gave the Crimson Tide all it could handle.

The game was a pitcher’s duel with junior Sarah Purvis and UA junior pitcher Jackie Traina turning the pitcher’s circle into their personal battleground.

Both ladies were pushed to their limit as each pitched into extra innings.  Traina would win the strikeout battle 13-3, but both pitchers baffled the opposing offense all day.

UA escaped with the victory on a bases loaded double in the bottom of the ninth inning by sophomore shortstop Danae Hays.

This was the second extra inning game of the weekend for GSU and the team still has to get ready for the showdown with the University of Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.