Clemson versus Alabama again? Tigers could face familiar postseason foe (2024)

CLEMSON— Once again, Clemson and Alabama find themselves ready to square off in postseason play.

A series which became known for its college football playoff faceoffs in the 2010s, and then an Elite Eight showdown in the NCAA men's basketball tournament this past March, will likely add another chapter in softball as Clemson competes in the Tuscaloosa regional this weekend.

The No. 2-seeded Tigers (34-17) will face Southeastern Louisiana on May 17 in a first-round matchup, but anyone who wishes to advance to Super Regionals will probably have to take down the host, No. 1 seed Alabama, to get there.

"I told our team, not everybody gets to experience postseason," Clemson coach John Rittman said. "We've worked our tails off for this opportunity. Just want them to feel blessed and grateful for the opportunity and then to get hungry about going to win another championship."

Clemson will really be going back to its roots with a trek to Tuscaloosa.

The upstart softball program, which has made all four NCAA tourneys since its inception, made its first postseason appearance at Alabama in 2021. That year, the Crimson Tide were the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament, shutting out the Tigers by 6-0 and 5-0 scores to advance to Super Regionals.

Clemson made the leap to regional hosts in 2022 and '23, advancing to Super Regionals both years. The Tigers' successes elevated hopes for what seniors like Valerie Cagle, McKenzie Clark, Alia Logoleo, and Millie Thompson might be able to accomplish in their final season together.

It's safe to say the grand finale hasn't been as grand as the Tigers would have hoped.

They lost one-run games against Top 25 opponents Georgia and Tennessee. They lost in extra innings, at home, to rival South Carolina. They were swept by Duke in ACC play, including an extra-inning loss to the Blue Devils— the eventual champions— in the conference tournament semifinals.

But the Tigers weren't at full strength all season, either. Cagle missed 10 games,and freshman slugger Julia Knowler missed 20. Senior catcher JoJo Hyatt has only played in 21 games total and holds a batting average of .094.

"We lost some tough, tough extra-inning games this year," Rittman said. "If we win two or three of those, we're probably a top-eight seed, honestly."

Instead, Clemson wasn't even in the top 16, falling from the rank of regional hosts and heading to a site that's second-most familiar.

In a return trip to Tuscaloosa, the senior class has a chance to cross an unexpected item off of its bucket list. This Alabama team isn't a No. 3 overall seed, like in 2021, but the No. 14 team in the field. Southeastern Louisiana and USC Upstate are also in the Tuscaloosa regional.

It's a winnable weekend, even if it's not being played in Clemson's backyard.

"It's full circle for the seniors and for a few of us that are graduating this year," Clark said. "We started at Alabama my freshman year, now we're finishing there my senior year. It's really exciting stuff."

Gameco*cks in Durham

South Carolina’s softball team is in the NCAA Regionals for the ninth time in 12 full seasons under coach Beverly Smith. The Gameco*cks begin the postseason against Utah at noon on Friday in Durham, N.C.

Host Duke plays Morgan State at approximately 2:30 p.m.

USC beat the No. 13 Utes 9-1 in Puerto Vallerta earlier this season. The Gameco*cks have beaten nine Top 25 teams this season.

USC is trying to reach a Super Regional for the second time under Smith.

David Cloninger contributed to this report