Softball Garners No. 4 National Seed; Will Host Tuscaloosa Regional
5/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2009
Tournament Central | NCAA Bracket in PDF Format 
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama softball team was awarded the No. 4 national seed and the top seed in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional on Sunday night. The Crimson Tide was awarded its berth into the NCAA tournament at its selection show Sunday night at the Alabama club house at the soccer stadium.
"This is my favorite day of the year," head coach Patrick Murphy said. "It's not Christmas, it's not New Year's, it's not Halloween it's selection Sunday. You have butterflies in your stomach until your name is called. I think we have done our home work by playing the toughest schedule in the country and having our RPI at No. 2."
The Crimson Tide will open regional play at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, at the Alabama Softball Complex against Mississippi Valley State (37-14). The opening game of the regional will feature Chattanooga (30-22) and Texas (38-18) at 3:30 p.m. Alabama finished the 2009 regular season with a SEC Western Division Championship and a 47-9 overall record, including a 21-6 mark in league play.
The third-ranked Tide is making their 11th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament under the direction of head coach Patrick Murphy. It is the fifth straight year Alabama has been a host site for an NCAA Regional and the seventh time overall.
The Crimson Tide has captured six NCAA Regional titles (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008) and boasts a 26-9 record in regional play.
For ticket information visit RollTide.com or call the Alabama Ticket office at 205-348-BAMA (2262).
The winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional will play the winner of the NCAA Knoxville Regional, which includes top-seeded Tennessee, Nebraska, James Madison and Jacksonville State in NCAA Super Regional play.
NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Schedule:
Friday, May 15
Texas vs. Chattanooga, 3:30 p.m. (Game 1)
Alabama vs. Mississippi Valley State, 6:00 p.m. (Game 2)
Saturday, May 16
Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 1:30 p.m. (Game 3)
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4 p.m. (Game 4)
Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6:30 p.m. (Game 5)
Sunday, May 17
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 1:30 (Game 6)
(if necessary) Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 4:00 p.m. (Game 7)
