Clemson softball seeded No. 2 in Tuscaloosa regional of 2024 NCAA Tournament. Here's a look at bracket
CLEMSON — Clemson softball has made the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.
The Tigers (34-17) are the No. 2 seed in the Tuscaloosa regional hosted by the No. 14 overall seed Alabama (33-17) at Rhoads Stadium. Clemson will face the No. 3 seed Southeastern Louisiana (45-13) on Friday (2 p.m. ET, ACC Network), and No. 4 seed USC Upstate (30-21) will face the Crimson Tide on Friday (4:30 p.m., ESPN+).
"We're battle tested, (and) we're ready for the postseason," Clemson coach John Rittman said Sunday. "Certainly, look forward to the challenge of going back to Tuscaloosa."
Clemson made it to the Tuscaloosa regional in its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 but failed to make it out. Since then, the Tigers have hosted a regional for the past two years, winning both but losing in the super regional to Oklahoma State in 2022 in Oklahoma in 2023.
Despite star player Valerie Cagle missing time this season, Clemson won six of its eight ACC series, tied for fourth in the ACC standings and reached the conference tournament semifinals. Seven players earned All-ACC honors, including Maddie Moore and Alia Logoleo who made first team.
Clemson's pitching staff ranks among the best in the nation. Led by Cagle, Millie Thompson and Regan Spencer, it has a 2.25 ERA, which ranks second in the conference behind Duke, and has allowed the fewest home runs (15) and walks (74) in the ACC.
Offensively, the Tigers are led by McKenzie Clark, Maddie Moore and Cagle. They helped Clemson rank sixth in the conference in home runs (54) and batting average (.297).
MORE ON CLEMSON: Why Clemson softball is embracing its trip to NCAA tournament Tuscaloosa Regional
NCAA Tournament Tuscaloosa regional
Friday
Game 1: Clemson vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 2 p.m. (ACC Network)
Game 2: Alabama vs. USC Upstate, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Saturday
Game 3: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4: G1 loser vs. G2 loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 5: G3 loser vs. G4 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: G3 winner vs. G5 winner, TBD
Game 7: G6 winner vs. G6 loser (if necessary), TBD
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson softball seeded No. 2 in Tuscaloosa bracket of NCAA Tournament
