Birmingham, Ala. – The NCAA Softball Championship Committee announced the field of 64 teams that will compete in this year's NCAA DI Softball Championships on Sunday, May 15.
The Bulldogs (40-18) will head to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to square off against nationally-seeded No.6 Alabama (46-12). Texas State (39-20) out of the Sun Belt and California (32-21-1) out of the PAC 12 will join Samford as the other two teams in the Tuscaloosa Regional.
Samford is no stranger to Alabama as the two teams meet on a semi-regular basis and are located just 53 miles apart down the I-20 corridor. In fact, the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide dueled earlier this season and while Alabama pulled out a 10-0 victory, Samford was able to tally four hits in the contest with a pair coming in a bases loaded first inning.
Alabama holds a 21-2 all-time record over Samford.
Texas State and California round out the rest of the Tuscaloosa Regional. The Bulldogs and the Bobcats have only tangoed once before which occurred just last season at the Wilson-DeMarini Classic hosted by Auburn. Samford won the 2-1 pitchers' duel between
Mollie Hanson and Randi Rupp.
Also, if the Bulldogs were to meet the Bears it would be the first time the two programs will have met between the chalk lines.
Samford will enter the regional having won 19 out of its last 21 games and is currently riding a seven game win streak which includes a three-game sweep through the Southern Conference Tournament.
Texas State and Cal will initiate play in regional action as the two teams will compete on Friday, May 20, at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN3 before the afternoon matchup between Samford and Alabama at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network.
