Postcard from the Winston-Salem Super Regional: Day 1

Will Miller and Austin Hannon have you covered from Winston-Salem, N.C. for the 2023 NCAA Super Regionals.

SI Editorial | Jun 9, 2023

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— The early start to the 2023 Winston-Salem Super Regional between Alabama and Wake Forest is almost here.

The No. 1 and No. 16 national seeds in the tournament will do battle for one of eight coveted spots in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., starting with Game 1 at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday.

It's the first time the Demon Deacons have ever hosted a super regional.

To advance, the Crimson Tide must win two games. In that regard, this format isn't much different from a weekend series in the regular season.

It also isn't much different from normal for Alabama in another way. The Crimson Tide is facing the No. 1 team in the nation, something it has done before this spring. Tests of this magnitude are a weekly proposition in the SEC.

Both clubs swept their regionals. Wake Forest's numbers in the effort were very good, but Alabama had a very good weekend too, punctuating the Tuscaloosa Regional (the first such regional in 17 years) with an 8-0 shutout of Boston College.

The two teams boast deep pitching staffs, with lineups on offense that don't have many glaring weak points. This weekend's series will be a battle.

A series win for the Crimson Tide would bring the program's first trip to Omaha since 1999 with it. It's been a long time since Alabama was playing in games this massive.

First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Saturday on ESPN.

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