Alabama softball faces SC Upstate for Tuscaloosa Regional championship

Alabama softball’s Tuscaloosa Regional championship opponent is set. The Crimson Tide will face SC Upstate at noon CT Sunday, May 17, at Rhoads Stadium with a spot in the NCAA super regionals on the line. Alabama reached the regional final with back-to-back shutouts, while SC Upstate advanced through the elimination bracket after dropping its regional opener to the Crimson Tide.

Alabama opened NCAA Tournament play Friday with an 8-0 run-rule win over SC Upstate in five innings, pushed by a six-run second inning and Kaitlyn Pallozzi’s first start in the circle in almost a month. The Crimson Tide went on to claim a 3-0 shutout over Belmont, powered by Jocelyn Briski in the circle and a hot start on offense Saturday. SC Upstate responded Saturday by beating Southeastern Louisiana 5-4, breaking a tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Spartans then punched their ticket to the regional championship with a 10-1 dominant win over Belmont to advance to the title game. Alabama enters Sunday needing one win to advance. SC Upstate must beat Alabama twice to win the regional.

If Alabama advances, it will face the winner of LSU vs. Virginia Tech in the super regionals. The Crimson Tide would host the Baton Rouge Regional champion at Rhoads Stadium for a three-game series next week.