Alabama goes into the tournament as the No. 5 team in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top 25 poll. Penn State and Texas A&M are currently not ranked, but they did receive votes in the poll.
In the NCAA Regional Tournament last season, the Nittany Lions defeated the Aggies in their opening game. That game was the first win in the tournament for the program, and was helped in large part by a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth by Megan Humphrey.
The team played a tight game against Alabama the next day, but fell to the Crimson Tide in the bottom of the ninth.
The success each team had last season and their rankings going into this season are indicators that the teams Penn State is playing are top-notch programs.
"The preseason is our chance to face national competition," coach Robin Petrini said.
Facing good teams before Big Ten play is something the team has tried to do the past couple seasons, and something it feels is important to its success.
"You have to play the best to get better," pitcher Kelly McCann said.
Last season the Lions also played good competition when they started their run to the NCAA Tournament. They played in a tournament that featured the No. 4 team in the country, Arizona. The team came home with a 3-2 record from that weekend.
Petrini said that there is more than wins that she looks for when it comes to competing in the beginning of the season.
"I pay attention to if the team is improving," Petrini said. "Wins and losses are not as important to me."
The tournament will be a change for the team because they will be out on the field instead of inside, where they have had to practice.
"The first time outside is always interesting," outfielder Karen Gulini said. "We are going to go out and try to win."
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