Who will Alabama softball play in 2024 Women’s College World Series?

No. 14 seed Alabama softball will face No. 6 UCLA in the first game of the Women’s College World Series on Thursday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN.

The Crimson Tide (38-18) is coming off of an NCAA super regional win over No. 3 Tennessee, where it lost Game 1, 3-2, but took Game 2 in 14 innings behind a Kristen White RBI then won Game 3 behind a Riley Valentine grand slam.

It marks Alabama’s second straight trip to the Women’s College World Series and 15th in program history. It comes after the Crimson Tide finished under .500 in conference play for the first time in program history and lost six of its last eight games before the NCAA Tournament, including a first-round SEC Tournament exit.

UCLA (42-10) is coming off of a Los Angeles Super Regional sweep over No. 11 seed Georgia (8-0, 6-1). The Bruins are the reigning Pac-12 champions.

Kenleigh Cahalan leads the Alabama offense, batting .317 with 57 hits 29 RBIs. Across the Tennessee series, Cahalan went 5-for-13, including going a perfect 3-for-3 in Sunday’s win. Kristen White has been explosive in the leadoff spot for Alabama, with three-straight multi-hit games between the regional and super regional rounds.

From the circle, Jocelyn Briski and Kayla Beaver have a combined 1.77 ERA. Beaver started in Game 1 of the Knoxville Super Regional before coming in for relief in the final two games and getting the saves. Briski started in the circle in Games 2 and 3, giving up three earned runs across the two starts.

ALABAMA SOFTBALL: Grand slam propels Alabama softball past Tennessee to Women’s College World Series

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