The No. 4 Alabama softball team will host the No. 7 Missouri Tigers for a three-game series this weekend. The Southeastern Conference newcomer is on a 10-game winning streak. Alabama is 8-2 in its last 10 games, including its last three in a row.

The Tide is 33-5 overall and 8-4 in the SEC, while Missouri is 20-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play.

“It’s probably one of the best series all year in the SEC and two of the best pitchers in the country going head to head,” head coach Patrick Murphy said. “I think it’s going to be a great battle. It’s going to be two heavyweights going at it, and Chelsea [Thomas], we respect the hell out of her. Their pitcher and Jackie Traina, they were teammates on Team USA this summer, so a little bit of reunion there, but it’s going to be two really good teams going at it.”

The last matchup between Alabama and Missouri took place in February 2010. Missouri won two of the three-game series. Alabama’s record against Missouri is 4-4.

“We’re looking to just play Alabama softball,” sophomore pitcher Leslie Jury said. “It’s going to be a great series. Missouri’s a great team. They have great pitching, but we’re going to step up, and we’re going to play Alabama softball and hopefully come away with a sweep.”

After winning the series in College Station, Texas over Texas A&M, Alabama is 2-1 over former Big 12 schools this season.

“You never know,” Murphy said. “[Chelsea Thomas] is difficult to score against, and I think she’s probably going to pitch all three so that’ll make it even more difficult, and hopefully as the series goes along, we need to make her throw. She gets outs, you know, one-pitch at-bats, that’s not going to be good for us. We need to throw seven, eight pitches to a hitter so [by] the third game, she’s tired.”

The series has a special meaning for senior Courtney Conley from Robertsville, Mo.

“They’re all Mizzou fans, all my family, but they always say they’re going to root for Alabama softball because of me until I leave,” Conley said. “I would’ve never imagined they would be in the SEC when I came to Alabama my freshman year, and I think it’s really cool honestly that they joined, and we’re really looking forward a good series.

“They’re a great team. They have a great pitcher, Chelsea Thomas, and we’re going to work hard this week obviously to prepare for them. But they’re a good team. We’re going to respect them.”

ESPNU will cover Friday and Saturday’s games. Friday’s crimson and white stripe-out game starts at 8 p.m. at Rhoads Stadium.