Coach Patty Gasso and the second-seeded OU softball team will host the 15th-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide this weekend in the NCAA super regionals. The Crimson Tide (40-21) took two of three games against the Sooners (48-7) in Tuscaloosa earlier this season.

Alabama softball is back in the NCAA Tournament for the 26th consecutive time. The Crimson Tide will begin its quest to return to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series Friday in Tuscaloosa.

The NCAA Softball Selection Committee generously gifted Alabama with Regional hosting duties. This year, they are seeded a program-low of No. 15. Opposite them is a Virginia Tech team who was ranked higher in all four polls, RPI, and KPI. Will the Hokies use that bit of disrespect to their advantage?