- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,129,177
- Reaction score
- 59
Alabama softball does not only have a spot in the NCAA Tournament. It has the top spot, and it finally knows its path to the Women's College World Series.
For the first time in 16 years, the Crimson Tide (49-7) will enter the postseason as the No. 1 overall seed, putting Alabama at the front of the 2026 NCAA softball tournament field and keeping its path to Oklahoma City rooted in Tuscaloosa.
"It's an unbelievable honor," Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy said on the NCAA Tournament selection show. "It's something that we treasure. It's a respect thing for us. It has just been a joy to coach Team 30."
The Crimson Tide’s ranking means it will host a regional and, if it advances, a super regional. The Tuscaloosa Regional field consists of Alabama, USC Upstate (36-21), Belmont (40-11) and SE Louisiana (46-14).
The Tuscaloosa Regional is double-elimination and will run from May 15-17. Alabama opens against USC Upstate at noon CT on Friday, May 15, followed by Belmont vs. SE Louisiana at 2:30 p.m. CT. The winners and losers of those games will meet Saturday, with the regional final set for Sunday and an if-necessary Game 7 to follow if needed.
The Tuscaloosa Regional is paired with the Baton Rouge Regional, led by No. 16 overall seed LSU. That side of the bracket also includes Virginia Tech (46-10), South Alabama (32-25) and Akron (34-23).
If Alabama wins the Tuscaloosa Regional, it will face the winner of the Baton Rouge Regional in a super regional series from May 22-24. The Crimson Tide would host the super regional if it advances.
The winner of the super regional round will advance to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City from May 28 to June 5.
It marks the 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance for Alabama and the 21st-straight season it is hosting a regional at Rhoads Stadium, not including the canceled 2020 season. Alabama has advanced to the Women’s College World Series 15 times and is looking to do so for the first time in two years.
The Crimson Tide won its lone national championship in 2012.
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Who does Alabama softball play if it wins Tuscaloosa Regional in NCAA Tournament?
Continue reading...
For the first time in 16 years, the Crimson Tide (49-7) will enter the postseason as the No. 1 overall seed, putting Alabama at the front of the 2026 NCAA softball tournament field and keeping its path to Oklahoma City rooted in Tuscaloosa.
"It's an unbelievable honor," Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy said on the NCAA Tournament selection show. "It's something that we treasure. It's a respect thing for us. It has just been a joy to coach Team 30."
The Crimson Tide’s ranking means it will host a regional and, if it advances, a super regional. The Tuscaloosa Regional field consists of Alabama, USC Upstate (36-21), Belmont (40-11) and SE Louisiana (46-14).
The Tuscaloosa Regional is double-elimination and will run from May 15-17. Alabama opens against USC Upstate at noon CT on Friday, May 15, followed by Belmont vs. SE Louisiana at 2:30 p.m. CT. The winners and losers of those games will meet Saturday, with the regional final set for Sunday and an if-necessary Game 7 to follow if needed.
The Tuscaloosa Regional is paired with the Baton Rouge Regional, led by No. 16 overall seed LSU. That side of the bracket also includes Virginia Tech (46-10), South Alabama (32-25) and Akron (34-23).
If Alabama wins the Tuscaloosa Regional, it will face the winner of the Baton Rouge Regional in a super regional series from May 22-24. The Crimson Tide would host the super regional if it advances.
The winner of the super regional round will advance to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City from May 28 to June 5.
It marks the 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance for Alabama and the 21st-straight season it is hosting a regional at Rhoads Stadium, not including the canceled 2020 season. Alabama has advanced to the Women’s College World Series 15 times and is looking to do so for the first time in two years.
The Crimson Tide won its lone national championship in 2012.
Tuscaloosa Regional full schedule, bracket
Friday, May 15
- Game 1: Alabama vs. USC Upstate, noon CT
- Game 2: Belmont vs. SE Louisiana, 2:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 16
- Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, TBD
- Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, TBD
- Game 5: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser, TBD
Sunday, May 17
- Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, TBD
- Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary), TBD
Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Who does Alabama softball play if it wins Tuscaloosa Regional in NCAA Tournament?
Continue reading...
