Five-seed Alabama softball has handled its opening games of the Tuscaloosa regional with relative ease, mixing in two different starters in the absence of Montana Fouts.

To advance to the NCAA tournament super regionals next week, Alabama (42-18) must once again deal with Middle Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders eliminated Central Arkansas on Saturday night, hours after losing to the Crimson Tide 12-5.

In order for MTSU (41-19) to advance, Alabama must lose back-to-back games, which it did a year ago in an upset to Stanford. Fouts, who was injured May 11, has been in uniform but has yet to make an appearance on the field this weekend.

First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and will air on ESPN+. Follow along for updates.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].