The Fairfield University softball team (25-22) learned its opponent for the 2015 NCAA Softball Championship next week, drawing sixth-seeded University of Alabama (42-12). The Stags and the Crimson Tide will meet Friday at 4 pm in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The rest of the regional bracket includes University of South Carolina-Upstate (43-8) and the University of Washington (40-15).

"It's very exciting to play the University of Alabama," Head Coach Julie Brzezinski said. "It's a great environment for college softball down there. Our team is looking forward to playing against one of the top softball programs and it will be a terrific experience."

Fairfield is making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament after winning the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship on May 9, sweeping Monmouth University on Championship Saturday in Buffalo. Alabama brings a 42-12 overall record into the tournament, winning 16 of its last 19 games. The Crimson Tide is ranked fourth in the May 5 USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll. 

The Stags are led by junior Lauren Filicia who enters the tournament with a .406 batting average. The outfielder was named the MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Pitchers Destinee Pallotto and Lauren Falkanger both made the All-Tournament team as well by winning two games in the tournament. The two right-handers both have 11 wins this season.

Haylie McCleney and Demi Turner are both hitting over .400 for the Crimson Tide, checking into the national tournament with a .462 and a .434 batting average respectively. Marisa Runyon owns a .358 hitting percentage with 17 home runs and 70 RBI. Sydney Littlejohn owns a 15-1 record with a 1.52 ERA while Alexis Osorio has started a team-high 24 games and owns a 17-7 record with a 1.72 ERA.

The game will be televised on the SEC Network beginning at 4 pm ET.