AUBURN, Ala. – Postseason bound for the 17th time in program history, Auburn softball (39-15) punched its postseason ticket to the Clemson Regional hosted by No. 15 Clemson.
Auburn will face No. 25 Louisiana (45-11) on Friday, May 20. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off its third consecutive Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship.
The host Tigers of Clemson (39-15) earned the overall 10th seed in the NCAA Tournament and will face UNC Wilmington (32-13). The Seahawks punched their postseason ticket by capturing the program's first Colonial Athletic Association Championship. The two programs will square off Friday at 11 a.m. CT on the ACC Network.
"We are going to have to be strong in the circle," said head coach Mickey Dean. "There's no doubt about that. This is a great hitting regional. Once you get to championship play, it is about who can play clean defense and not give up those extra bases. Those are the two big things."
Clemson is hosting regionals for the first time in its program's history. Auburn has never met the Tigers of Clemson on the softball field. Auburn has history with both UNCW and Louisiana, but next weekend will mark the first time in program history the Tigers have tangled with either team at an NCAA Regional.
The Tigers are 2-1 all-time against Louisiana. Auburn is meeting the Ragin' Cajuns for the first time since the 2015 Auburn Super Regional. The Tigers two a pair of games to advance to the program's first Women's College World Series. Auburn is a perfect 5-0 against UNCW. The two teams last met in as the Tigers swept three games against the Seahawks, including two via the run rule.
The winner of the Clemson Regional will face the winner of the Stillwater Regional, which features seventh-seeded Oklahoma State, Fordham, Nebraska and North Texas.
No. 17 Auburn punches postseason ticket to Clemson Regional
