Auburn will have an opportunity to earn a trip to its third straight Women’s College World Series without leaving Auburn.
Auburn was announced as the No. 7 overall seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, and will be a regional host for the fourth time in school history.
The Tigers will open its postseason play vs. East Tennessee State Friday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field. California and Notre Dame join the Tigers and Buccaneers in the Auburn regional.
“We’re excited. Where you are really doesn't matter, it's where you finish,” coach Clint Myers said after the team’s end-of-season awards banquet. “It’s going to be a good regional. We’ve got to play good softball to have an opportunity to play the other one.”
If Auburn advances out of the regional, it would also host a Super Regional, which could possibly be a rematch with No. 10 seed Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated Auburn in the championship series of the WCWS last season.
“Not to put the cart before the horse, but if we take care of business like we’re supposed to, and they take care of business like they’re so supposed to, that’s the matchup it will be,” Myers said. “We played each other in the first game of the season, and that just means one of the two of us will play their last game against the same opponent.”
It is the third-straight season that Auburn has earned a national seed and hosted a regional.
“I’m excited. I live for this time of year,” senior catcher Carlee Wallace said. “I told somebody earlier that I’m already ready to pick a fight with somebody in heels right now. I’m ready to go.”
The SEC set an NCAA record with all 13 teams earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Florida was named the No. 1 overall seed, and eight of the 13 SEC teams earned a national Top 16 seed.
Notre Dame and California will play at 1 p.m. Friday, and Auburn and East Tennessee State will follow at approximately 3:30 p.m. Auburn and East Tennessee State will be televised by ESPNU.
Auburn Regional:
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 15, 2017
Auburn vs. ETSU
Notre Dame vs. California pic.twitter.com/5FgupmfIeV
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