It’s been an odd regional in Tuscaloosa, so far: television delays, rain and lightning strikes, and then a series of largely noncompetitive games greeted Alabama fans in Rhoads Stadium this weekend. Only one game in the entire regional has been decided by fewer than five runs.
And it hasn’t matter a bit to the Crimson Tide or its faithful fans.
No. 19 Alabama came into its host regional sporting the nation’s 12th-best RPI, and just at .500 in conference play. Despite the sometimes up-and-down season and the spotty record (for Alabama,) the Crimson Tide were much improved down the stretch, coming into postseason play on bit of a hot streak.