CLEMSON — Clemson softball is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season but is still getting over its crushing defeat in the ACC Tournament semifinals.

The Tigers (34-17) battled Duke to extra innings but fell in the 10th after giving up a walk-off RBI single on a bang-bang play at home plate. It was the sixth straight time the Blue Devils defeated Clemson.

"It was tough on our team, but I told them, 'We had a couple of days to kind of get over it,'" Clemson coach John Rittman said. "It's a new chapter of the season, (and) it's an opportunity for us to win another championship."

The Tigers are the No. 2 seed in the Tuscaloosa Regional, hosted by the No. 14 overall seed Alabama (33-17) at Rhoads Stadium. The regional features No. 3 seed Southeastern Louisiana (45-13) and No. 4 seed USC Upstate (30-21).

Clemson will face Southeastern Louisiana on Friday (2 p.m. ET, ACC Network).

The Tigers will be looking to make their third straight super regional.

Led by the reigning USA Softball player of the year, Valerie Cagle, here's why the Tigers can — and can't — win the Tuscaloosa Regional:

Can: Clemson softball has elite pitching staff

Clemson's staff ranks among the best in the nation. It has a 2.22 ERA, which ranks second in the conference and 22nd in the country. It allows the fewest home runs (15) and fourth fewest walks (75) and has the ninth best strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.61) in the nation.

Millie Thompson, Regan Spencer and Cagle rank in the top 10 in ERA in the ACC. Thompson leads the Tigers with a 1.79 ERA and has recorded 72 strikeouts and nine walks in 86 innings. Spencer has appeared in the most games this year, posting a 1.95 ERA and allowing the lowest batting average against on the team (.227).

Then, there's Cagle, who has a 2.39 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 23 walks. Clemson's pitching staff must remain strong in the tournament.

Can: Clemson has succeed against nonconference opponents in 2024

Despite hosting a regional at McWhorter Stadium for the past two seasons, the Tigers are not afraid to travel. They are 10-5 on the road and 7-2 at neutral sites this season.

Against non-ACC opponents, they are 18-7, including wins against NCAA tournament teams Ole Miss, Oregon and South Carolina.

"We're pretty focused (and) determined," outfielder McKenzie Clark said. "We have some names that we need to check off our list, start focusing now and get prepared, (and) that starts this week."

MORE ON CLEMSON: Why Clemson softball is embracing its trip to NCAA tournament Tuscaloosa Regional

Can't: Alabama stands in Clemson's way

The Crimson Tide have made 25 straight NCAA tournaments, and this is their 19th consecutive season hosting a regional at Rhoads Stadium. They eliminated Clemson in 2021, winning 5-0.

Alabama has a 23-3 record against nonconference opponents this season, including wins against NCAA tournament teams Florida State, Virginia Tech, Villanova and Arizona.

Kayla Beaver is Alabama's top pitcher with a 1.78 ERA and 162 strikeouts.

Infielder Kenleigh Cahalan leads Alabama with a .293 batting average, 46 hits and 24 RBIs.

Can't: Fielding can doom Clemson's postseason run

The Tigers are tied for the second-worst fielding percentage in the ACC with .960, and they have committed the third most errors (60). These miscues allow teams to stay in games and score runs.

In Clemson's ACC Tournament game against Duke, infielder Maddie Moore committed two fielding errors, including one in the fourth inning that set up the Blue Devils' two-run rally to tie the game.

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: Why Clemson softball can, can't win Tuscaloosa Regional, beat Alabama