Alabama Softball Advances in NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, Virginia Tech Competes

In the 2025 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, No. 15 Alabama softball began with a dominant win over Jackson State and then defeated Virginia Tech 4-3 to advance to the championship series, overcoming early pitching struggles by Jocelyn Briski. The Crimson Tide used aggressive base running and timely hitting to secure their victory, despite a strong start by Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech, seeded second in the regional, entered after a tough ACC Tournament loss and faced Belmont in their opening game, with pitcher Emma Lemley expected to lead the team. Belmont, led by strikeout leader Maya Johnson, is a strong but small-ball team with limited home run power compared to Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech and Belmont have a prior matchup where the Hokies won decisively. Meanwhile, Mississippi State won its first game in the Lubbock Regional and will face Texas Tech next, highlighting the competitive nature of the NCAA softball tournament.