After Oklahoma saw an early exit in the SEC Tournament, it opened up the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Softball Tournament for what many thought would be Texas to slide right in after winning the SEC. However, it was actually Alabama who took the top spot and was going to earn what should have been the easiest regional in the tournament.
In the Tuscaloos Regional, Alabama is joined by Southeastern Louisiana, Blemont, and USC Update. Not a single power conference team is with Alabama, which many would believe is a great thing, while Oklahoma is joined by three power conference teams, but these mid-major teams shouldn't be overlooked.
Alabama is joined by three mid-major teams that could easily be a dark horse in the NCAA Softball Tournament, with three of the top five pitching standouts in college softball, with Southeastern Louisiana and Belmont, along with the Crimson Tide.
Even Patty Gasso feels bad for Alabama in the Tuscaloosa Regional
When the bracket was revealed, many Alabama fans couldn't believe the hand they were dealt as the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Even Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso knows what is in store for the Tide and gave her thoughts.
"That pitcher from Belmont is something, so I don't know that I would be thrilled to be Alabama, but I mean, you're one for a reason," Gasso said.
That pitcher that Gasso is talking about is left-hander Maya Johnson, who leads the NCAA in ERA and strikeouts this season with a 0.66 ERA and 381 strikeouts in 201 innings of play. While Alabama has some very talented hitters like Brooke Weels, who is batting .404 right now, and Alexis Pupillo, who is batting .403 right now, Johnson is going to be a tough one to go against.
Not only does Belmont have elite pitching, but Southeastern Louisiana also has an elite pitching staff that won't make things easy for the Tide or the other teams in the Tuscaloosa Regional.
Even though Alabama has been put on upset alert in their own regional, the Crimson Tide have some aces up their sleeve as well. The Tide brings SEC Pitcher of the Year Jocelyn Briski, who is 21-3 on the season with a 1.45 ERA as well as freshman Vic Moten, who is 19-4 on the season with a 1.73 ERA.
Alabama brings a combined 1.60 ERA, which is second-best in the nation to their matchup in the regional. The Tide simply needs to handle business and not listen to the outside noise to get out of the regional unscathed.
The Tide will play its first game in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Friday at Noon CT when they face USC-Upstate.
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