Auburn Softball Releases Full 2017 Schedule

The back-to-back SEC Champion Auburn softball team led by Clint Myers released its 2017 schedule yesterday. You can see it in its entirety by clicking here. 

Back in June, Track ‘Em Tigers brought you a season preview in the Looking Ahead to the 2017 Season. 

The 2017 season could not get off to a better or more competitive start. Auburn will join Washington, Nebraska and BYU in trying to take down defending National Champion Oklahoma in the Triple Crown Tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The tournament begins February 9th and finishes on the 11th with the Tigers playing Washington and Oklahoma on the 9th, Nebraska on the 10th and finishing with BYU on the 11th. That is easily the hardest slate of the five teams. 

Auburn famously fell just short of winning its first national championship against Oklahoma in its first appearance in the Women’s College World Series finals. Despite miraculous plays from Victoria Draper and Whitney Jordan as well as a clutch walk-off home run from Emily Carosone early in the series, the Tigers’ inexperience in the big moment cost them big in game three. Taking on the Sooners in the tournament provides a terrific opportunity for the Tigers to start the season and build some serious confidence. 

Nebraska and BYU are not major contenders, though both made it to regional play in 2016. However …

the Washington Huskies are a legitimate contender. The Huskies finished with a 39–15 record last season and fell to Auburn’s rival, Alabama, with scores of 1–2 and 2–5 in super-regional play. 

No television schedule has been released yet, but expect these games to be shown at least on  SEC Network+.

Auburn will host the Plainsman and Tiger Invitationals at home in consecutive weeks from February 17th to March 2nd. However, only James Madison should provide any challenge for Auburn.

The Tigers join other premier teams in the Wilson/DeMarini Classic on March 3rd. Headlining the competition are in-conference opponents LSU and Tennessee. 

Auburn finishes preseason play by traveling to the University of South Florida for the USF Tournament on March 17th. The competition will be light.

The regular season begins in Gainesville against Florida on March 24th. Though Auburn knocked off UF in the SEC Tournament, the Gators have had Auburn’s number in regular season play. Auburn will look to win its first series against the regular-season champs. This is a premier matchup between potential top-five teams and will undoubtedly be televised. 

Auburn opens home play at Jane B, Moore field against Ole Miss on April 7th. 

The decisive series of the season with serious post-season implications comes May 5 through 7 in Tuscaloosa as the Tigers take on the Tide. The Tide is a team that has given Auburn fits. Aside from avoiding sweeps and postseason play, Auburn has been unable to get series wins against the Tide. 

In terms of SEC play, Auburn also draws Ole Miss, Missouri, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Georgia. However, drawing both Florida and Alabama and playing both teams on the road will most likely define the season.

Clint Myers’ team has grown each year in his three-year tenure at Auburn. Prior to Myers coming on the scene, Auburn had not been close to the big wins as the Tigers struggled in the moment while, heavyweights Alabama and Florida largely thrived. Now Auburn has won back-to-back SEC championships and made it to two WCWS’s, including a finals appearance. 

The SEC Tournament kicks off on May 10th in Knoxville where the Tigers look for a three-peat. Regional play begins eight days later, leading to super-regional play on the 26th. The Women’s College World Series begins June 1st in Oklahoma City.

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