Clemson softball will be on road for NCAA Tournament play

CLEMSON — Clemson softball will have to win a regional away from home to advance in the postseason.

The Tigers did not receive one of the top 16 national seeds, which would have allowed them to host an NCAA Tournament regional.

Instead, Clemson earned the No. 2 seed in the Tuscaloosa Regional. Joining Clemson in the regional is No. 1 seed Alabama, No. 3 seed Troy and No. 4 seed Alabama State. Alabama is the No. 3 overall seed in the bracket.

Clemson will face Troy at 3 p.m. Friday in its first NCAA Tournament game in program history. Clemson softball is only in its first full season and its second year of competition.

“So excited for our program to be playing in our first NCAA Tournament ever. Going to regionals and Alabama is going to be a special environment,” Clemson coach John Rittman said in a statement. “I know our team’s excited, our coaching staff is excited, to represent Clemson and our great softball program here.”

The Tigers did not earn a top 16 national seed, despite being 42-6 heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Clemson also won the regular-season ACC title with a conference record of 29-5. The Tigers lost to Duke 1-0 in the ACC Tournament championship game on Saturday.

“Just looking forward to a wonderful experience. We’ve played really well all season long and have earned the right to be in this NCAA Tournament,” Rittman said. “Just look forward to a great weekend of softball. I know our team is going to be ready.”

Clemson is led by two-way star Valerie Cagle, who was named the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year.

Cagle, who is also one of 10 finalists for the USA Softball National Player of the Year Award, is batting .414, with 15 home runs and 41 RBIs. The freshman is also 26-5 on the mound, with a 1.06 ERA.