By: Brett Greenberg
TUSCALOOSA, AL. - No. 3 Alabama softball is rid ing a 10-game win streak heading into the SEC Tournament, and coach Patrick Murphy couldn't be more excited for the postseason.
"This was one of the most fun seasons I have ever had here with one of the most resilient groups of women," he said. "I am so proud of everyone within the program: the players, coaches, administrators and fans. I am proud of everybody. It’s been a long 14 months, but to come away 18-6 in the league and 42-7 overall, we’re just playing really well right now and I am incredibly proud of this team. Our group has put it all out there this season and we can’t wait for the postseason."
Alabama opens play Thursday against the winner of Wednesday's game between Kentucky and Georgia on the SEC Network.
Here are three things to know as the Crimson Tide gears up for another SEC tournament championship trophy, which would be coach Murphy's sixth, with the most recent coming in 2012. Rhoads Stadium also played host for the SEC Tournament that year.
All information about the SEC tournament schedule: 2021 SEC Tournament seeds and bracket announced; see when No. 3 Alabama plays
More:Printable bracket
How does the matchup look?
Alabama earned the third seed and a bye, just one game back from No. 1 seed Florida and second-seeded Arkansas.
The Crimson Tide won one game in its three-game series at Kentucky at the end of March and swept the Bulldogs in Athens.
In the last 10 SEC tournaments, Alabama has been awarded a one-seed four times, and a three-seed, five-seed and eight-seed two times each.
Home sweet home
The Crimson Tide had 10 of its final 13 regular-season games at home. Now it has the opportunity to be in Rhoads Stadium for at least two more weeks if it is chosen to host an NCAA regional.
Alabama went 31-4 in Rhoads Stadium this year, the same number of regular-season home losses as the 2012 national championship team. Two of the losses came to the No. 1-seeded Gators, one to seventh-seeded Tennessee and the other coming against in-state rival South Alabama.
The Crimson Tide finished the regular season 13-3 at home against ranked opponents and 18-1 against unranked opponents.
Getting hot at the right time: How No. 3 Alabama softball closed out regular season with 10-game win streak
Tournament history
The Crimson Tide has won the SEC tournament five times (1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012), which ties Florida and LSU for most tournament titles since the event began in 1996.
The winner of the SEC tournament has gone on to win the national championship only one time, when Alabama did it in 2012. Only one other SEC team has won a national championship, Florida in 2014 and 2015.
"This is the best collection of talented teams in one place in the whole country," said Murphy. "It's going to be a fun week, and to be able to have in the Rhoads House is special."
SEC Softball Tournament schedule
Tuesday
No. 10 Auburn (27-21) vs. No. 11 South Carolina (25-25), SEC Network
Wednesday
No. 5 Ole Miss (34-19) vs. No. 12 Mississippi State (32-22), 11 a.m. CT
No. 3 LSU (31-18) vs. Auburn/South Carolina winner
No. 2 Tennessee (39-12) vs. No. 13 Texas A&M (31-20)
No. 4 Kentucky (38-12) vs. No. 8 Georgia (29-20)
Thursday
Quarterfinals starting at 11 a.m., SEC Network
Friday
Semifinals starting at 3 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday
Championship starting at 5 p.m., ESPN2
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