AUBURN, Ala. – A challenging nonconference slate that features five tournaments and three meetings with 2022 Women's College World Series participants combined with the always grueling Southeastern Conference slate await Auburn softball as head coach Mickey Dean released the full 2023 schedule on Thursday.
"We're looking forward to a challenging 2023 schedule," said head coach Mickey Dean. "Over half of our schedule is comprised of teams that made the postseason a season ago. We've got several tournaments at Jane B. Moore Field early in the season. With spending our entire fall season on the road, we're excited to welcome the Auburn Family back to Jane B. Moore Field in February."
The 2023 schedule features 30 contests against teams that earned a postseason berth last season. Factoring in a road conference series to Florida in April, the Tigers play a total of six games against teams that advanced to the 2022 WCWS. Auburn's schedule features 31 home games, including three home tournaments over February and March.
Announced earlier this month, the Tigers open the 2023 campaign at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, on Feb. 10-12. The season-opening tournament features meetings with St. John's, Fordham, Pittsburgh, Indiana and Illinois.
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field the following weekend for the first of three tournaments on its home field. Hosting the Tiger Invite on Feb. 17-19, Auburn welcomes Austin Peay, Villanova and Dayton to the Plains.
February features one lone midweek matchup as UAB treks to Jane B. Moore Field on Feb. 22. The Tigers close out the first month with the Plainsman Invitational on Feb. 24-26 with contests scheduled against Brown, North Dakota State and Merrimack.
Auburn's first true road game of the season will feature a in-state battle at Troy on March 1. Auburn hosts the second annual Jane B. Moore Memorial Tournament, held in honor of Auburn women's athletics pioneer Dr. Jane B. Moore, on March 3-5. Bowling Green, South Alabama and Tennessee Tech round out the tournament field.
Following a midweek tilt at Georgia Tech on March 8, the Tigers open Southeastern Conference action on the road at Georgia (March 10-12).
Auburn faces its toughest nonconference test of the season on March 18-19, participating in the OKC Hall of Fame Classic, which is held at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex – the home of the Women's College World Series.
The Tigers will square off against North Texas, 2022 WCWS participant Northwestern and Weber State before ending the tournament with back-to-back contests against the reigning national champions, Oklahoma.
Auburn returns to Jane B. Moore Field for back-to-back SEC series against Missouri (March 24-26) and Ole Miss (March 31-April 2). Sandwiched between the two series is a road midweek tilt at Samford on March 29.
April features three SEC road series for the Tigers as Auburn travels to Florida (April 7-9), in-state rival Alabama (April 21-23) and South Carolina (April 28-30). Fans have chances to catch the Tigers at home during the month with midweek games against Troy (April 12) and Jacksonville State (April 19).
Auburn's lone home series during the month comes on April 14-16 as LSU travels to Jane B. Moore Field.
The Tigers round out the regular season with four consecutive home games as Auburn hosts Alabama State on May 3 before concluding the season with a three-game series against Mississippi State on May 5-7.
The 2023 SEC Tournament is set for May 10-14, hosted by Arkansas in Fayetteville. NCAA Regionals are slated for May 18-21 and followed by the Super Regional round on May 25-28. The 2023 Women's College World Series begins in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on June 1.
Additional game times and television assignments will be announced at a later date.
2023 Auburn Softball Schedule
| Date | Opponent | TIME (CT) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10 | St. John's | 12:30 p.m. | Clearwater, Fla. |
| Feb. 10 | Fordham | 3:00 p.m. | Clearwater, Fla. |
| Feb. 11 | Pittsburgh | 10:00 a.m. | Clearwater, Fla. |
| Feb. 11 | Indiana | 12:30 p.m. | Clearwater, Fla. |
| Feb. 12 | Illinois | 11:30 a.m. | Clearwater, Fla. |
| Feb. 17 | Austin Peay | 3:00 p.m | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 17 | Villanova | 5:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 18 | Villanova | 3:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala |
| Feb. 18 | Dayton | 5:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 19 | Austin Peay | 2:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 22 | UAB | 6:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 24 | Brown | 3:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 24 | North Dakota State | 5:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 25 | North Dakota State | 3:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 25 | Merrimack | 5:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| Feb. 26 | Merrimack | 2:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| March 1 | Troy | 6:00 p.m. | Troy, Ala. |
| March 3 | Bowling Green | 3:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| March 3 | South Alabama | 5:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| March 4 | South Alabama | 3:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| March 4 | Tennessee Tech | 5:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| March 5 | Bowling Green | 2:30 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| March 8 | Georgia Tech | TBA | Atlanta, Ga. |
| March 10-12 | Georgia | TBA | Athens, Ga. |
| March 17 | North Texas | 11:00 a.m. | Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| March 17 | Northwestern | 1:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| March 18 | Weber State | 1:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City, Okla |
| March 18 | Oklahoma | 4:00 p.m. | Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| March 19 | Oklahoma | 12:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| March 24-26 | Missouri | TBA | Auburn, Ala. |
| March 29 | Samford | TBA | Birmingham, Ala. |
| March 31 - April 2 | Ole Miss | TBA | Auburn, Ala. |
| April 7-9 | Florida | TBA | Gainesville, Fla. |
| April 12 | Troy | 6:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| April 14-16 | LSU | TBA | Auburn, Ala. |
| April 19 | Jacksonville State | 6:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| April 21-23 | Alabama | TBA | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
| April 28-30 | South Carolina | TBA | Columbia, S.C. |
| May 3 | Alabama State | 6:00 p.m. | Auburn, Ala. |
| May 5-7 | Mississippi State | TBA | Auburn, Ala/ |
| May 10-14 | SEC Tournament | TBA | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| May 18-21 | NCAA Regionals | TBA | Campus Sites |
| May 25-28 | NCAA Super Regionals | TBA | Campus Sites |
| June 1-9 | Women's College World Series | TBA | Oklahoma City, Okla. |