Alabama put together a truly dominant effort in the Tuscaloosa Regional, proving its standing as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In wins over USC Upstate twice and Belmont, the Crimson Tide rolled with a combined score of 20-0. Its pitching staff allowed just six total hits across three games, flexing the muscles of what makes it a legitimate national championship contender.
Now, Alabama advances to the Super Regionals, which will also be hosted in Tuscaloosa. In the opposite dugout will be SEC rival LSU. It's a best-of-three series with a spot in the College World Series in Oklahoma City on the line.
And the first pitch on Friday comes at a perfect time for Alabama fans.
Alabama gets coveted Friday night game to open Super Regionals vs. LSU
Wish granted for Alabama softball fans. It'll be a prime-time matchup on Friday night for the Crimson Tide to open the Super Regionals.
Alabama's first matchup will start at 6 pm CT. The Rhoads House will be rocking.
Super Regional teams/@NCAASoftball tournament bids:
— Jenna Becerra (@JennaBecerra01) May 18, 2026
SEC -9/12
Big 12 - 4/7
B1G - 2/7
ACC - 1/8
All top 8 seeds hosting Supers. 3 regional hosts eliminated. Only 2 if necessary games played. pic.twitter.com/DZoIUfNbap
Game two of the Super Regional will be at 2 pm CT on Saturday, with the if necessary third game to be determined on Sunday. Alabama will play on ESPN2 on Friday and ESPN on Saturday, giving the top-seeded Crimson Tide the national TV treatment it so richly deserves.
The primetime matchup on Friday is perfect. The Rhoads House would be rocking regardless of the start time, but it coming after the workday is perfect for fans wanting to go to the game or watch on TV.
You can bet that Patrick Murphy won't be gambling to open the Super Regional like he did with the Regional. Not against a dangerous LSU team. Getting the first win is of the utmost importance, and Jocelyn Briski will have the ball in her hands on Friday night in Tuscaloosa.
Vic Moten is the probable starter for the second game on Saturday, and Briski will be ready to come in for relief if needed, while being ready to pitch the third game on Sunday if the series makes it that far.
Alabama and LSU did not meet during the regular season this year. The Tigers finished 13-11 in SEC play and are 40-17 overall. LSU was knocked out of the SEC Tournament in the 2nd Round by Georgia after receiving a 1st round bye.
To advance to Tuscaloosa, the Tigers took care of business in the Baton Rouge Regional, knocking off Akron and then Virginia Tech twice. LSU was similarly dominant in its Regional, outscoring its opposition by a 23-2 margin.
This will be a significant test for Alabama as they look to get back to the College World Series after a one-year absence. A year ago, the Crimson Tide was decimated on the road in the Supers by Oklahoma.
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