Alabama Softball Releases 2018 Schedule

Alabama softball has announced its 2018 schedule. The slate includes nine NCAA Super Regional participants, four of which went on to compete in the 2017 Women’s College World Series.

“We are really excited about the strength of our schedule this spring,” UA head coach Patrick Murphy said. “For the first time ever, all of our home SEC opponents played in a Super Regional. It’s impossible to look past anyone in college softball now, the parity is certainly there.”

The 2018 slate includes 14 teams that made the 2017 NCAA Tournament and nine Super Regional participants. Florida, Texas A&M, Washington and Baylor, half of last year’s Women’s College World Series field, are all on the Crimson Tide’s schedule in 2018.

Alabama will play 24 games at Rhoads Stadium this year, which includes the annual Easton Bama Bash and Easton Crimson Classic, midweek matchups against UAB and Southern Miss as well as SEC series against Ole Miss, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Current season ticket holders can renew via email or by calling the ticket office at 205-348-2262. The deadline for season ticket renewal is Nov. 21. Brickyard season tickets are also currently available for purchase for $45.

“One of our goals in recent years is to have over 100,000 fans come through the gates of Rhoads Stadium,” Murphy said. “With such a strong home schedule, this could be the year we accomplish that goal.”

The Crimson Tide opens the season Thursday, Feb. 8 in Mobile, Ala., against South Alabama before heading to Gulf Shores for the Sand Dollar Classic Feb. 9-11. There, the Tide will face Central Arkansas, Lamar, Penn State and Virginia Tech.

The following weekend, Alabama travels to Hattiesburg, Miss. for the Black and Gold Tournament, hosted by Southern Miss. The Tide opens play against the host Golden Eagles Friday, Feb. 16 followed by games against McNeese, Mississippi Valley State and 2017 Women’s College World Series participant Baylor.

Alabama makes its home debut Feb. 23-25, hosting the Easton Bama Bash at Rhoads Stadium. The Crimson Tide will play five games over three days, squaring off against Georgia State, Northern Iowa and defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion and Super Regional participant Florida State.

Following a midweek road contest at UAB Tuesday, Feb. 27, the Tide heads to Seattle for the Husky Classic, hosted by 2017 WCWS semifinalist Washington. In addition to two games against the Huskies, the Tide will face BYU, Portland State and Northwestern.

Following its weekend in Seattle, Alabama returns to Rhoads Stadium for the Easton Crimson Classic March 9-11, hosting Boston College, Fordham and Samford. The Tide then heads to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech March 14 before opening Southeastern Conference play with a three-game road series at Auburn March 16-18.

Alabama then plays four-consecutive home games, starting with UAB on Tuesday, March 20 before facing Ole Miss March 23-25. SEC play continues the following weekend with a three-game series at Kentucky March 30-April 1.

A rematch of last year’s NCAA Super Regional round awaits the following week at home against 2017 national runner-up Florida. The three-game series with the Gators begins on Saturday, April 7 and concludes on Monday, April 9.

The second half of SEC play begins with a three-game stint at Arkansas April 13-15 and then the Tide returns home for a midweek matchup against Southern Miss Wednesday, April 18. On Saturday, April 21, Alabama opens a three-game series against Super Regional participant Tennessee at Rhoads Stadium. The Saturday contest against the Volunteers will be the Tide’s annual Power of Pink game.

The Tide heads to Athens, Ga., for a three-game road series against Georgia April 27-29 before concluding the regular season the following weekend at home against Women’s College World Series participant Texas A&M May 4-6.

Qualifying teams will travel to Columbia, Mo., and the campus of the University of Missouri, the following week for the 2018 SEC Tournament. The 12-team tournament begins Wednesday, May 9 and concludes with the SEC Tournament Championship Saturday, May 12.

The NCAA tournament selection show will take place on Sunday, May 13 with the NCAA Tournament beginning that following weekend with 64 teams playing across 16 regional sites. Alabama has qualified for 19-straight NCAA Tournaments and is the only team in the country to appear in every Super Regional round since its introduction in 2005.