Alabama wasn’t a softball state 20 years ago. Rhoads Stadium was a dream. The University of Alabama wasn’t even playing fast pitch.

Now, two teams in the top five are from Alabama (Alabama and Auburn). South Alabama is No. 23 after starting the season at No. 25. UAB started the season receiving votes.

“It’s a softball state now,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “And there’s no way that anybody predicted that 20 years ago when we were still playing slow pitch. I mean, the athletes have come so far, the coaching, the facilities. Everything in this state is geared towards softball now.”

Tuesday night, two in-state programs will face off when No. 5 Alabama heads up to Birmingham to face UAB at 6 p.m.

The Crimson Tide (4-1) is 18-0 all-time against the Blazers (1-4). The teams’ first meeting was Feb. 23, 2000, which Alabama won 7-1. In the last matchup, Alabama won 14-1 in five innings. It was the fourth time Alabama has won by mercy-rule against the Blazers.