The Crimson Tide entertains Wisconsin, Oregon State and Middle Tennessee as part of this week's NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.

Immediately following the selection show, Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy and senior second baseman Demi Turner met with reporters to discuss the upcoming regional.

Turner described the excitement that the team experienced when Alabama was announced as the No. 12 seed in the tournament.

"Ecstatic, I mean excited. I don't even know another word for it." Turner said. "We're just so pumped. It's just such an awesome feeling to see our name up there again and just having the opportunity to be back here at Rhoads Stadium against this postseason."

Head coach Patrick Murphy likewise expressed similar excitement about hosting a regional and making the program's 20th consecutive regional appearance.

"This is like Christmas Day, my birthday and St. Patrick's Day all rolled into one, my favorite day of the year. This never gets old" Murphy said. "This is our 20th in a row and believe me, it never gets old seeing Alabama on that TV screen."

In addition to Alabama, the remaining 12 teams in the SEC qualified for a regional bid with a total of nine conference teams hosting regionals.

With the SEC sending all 13 of their softball programs to a regional for the second straight season, Alabama's head softball coach listed a number of factors for the booming success of the conference.

"I just think it's a perfect storm for the sport, good weather, really good players, coaches and then the athletic directors have said, 'This is the sport that has fan potential." and so they're putting money into facilities." Murphy said.

Alabama opens the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Friday at 8:30 PM against Middle Tennessee.

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