Kentucky reveals 2023 softball schedule that includes five teams from 2022 World Series.
The University of Kentucky softball team will be tested early and often when its 55-game 2023 season gets underway in February.
During the first month alone, the Wildcats will face four schools that played in the 2022 College World Series and one against its biggest rival during a stretch of 20 games in 23 days that includes stops in Florida, Texas, California and Oklahoma.
UK follows that up with a 24-game Southeastern Conference schedule that concludes with a three-game home stand against CWS participant Florida.
Kentucky is coming off a 2022 season in which it finished 37-19 overall and 13-11 in the SEC, good for fourth place. The Wildcats were knocked out in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament, then bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the regional round.
Coach Rachel Lawson is entering her 16th season as head coach of the Wildcats after picking up her 500th UK win during 2022. Lawson is 532-314 since taking over as Kentucky’s head coach in 2008 following three seasons at Western Kentucky, where she posted an additional 92 wins.
The 2023 season gets underway Feb. 10-12 at the NFCA Lead-Off Classic in Clearwater, Fla. Kentucky’s season opener is against St. John’s on Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. The same day, at 1:30 p.m., UK will face Louisville in the first of two meetings this season against its archrival.
After games Feb. 11 against Pittsburgh and Southern, the Wildcats conclude the season-opening test against Texas on Feb. 12 at 12:30 p.m. The Longhorns finished last season as national runner-up to Oklahoma.
The following weekend, it’s off to Denton, Texas, for the North Texas Tournament. The five-game weekend includes dates with 2022 NCAA Tournament teams McNeese State and North Texas.
The Wildcats then head to California. First comes a game in Los Angeles at 2022 NCAA Tournament participant Loyola-Marymount. Then, it’s the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at Palm Springs, which includes games against 2022 College World Series participants UCLA and Northwestern and NCAA Tournament combatant Washington.
Kentucky makes one final stop before it gets a chance to play its home opener — and it’s a big opportunity.
The Wildcats visit the home of defending national champion Oklahoma, where it will play the Sooners March 3-4 in addition to games both days against Illinois-Chicago. Ranked No. 1 as defending national champions last year, the Sooners visited Lexington and defeated then-No. 8 Kentucky, 9-1.
Kentucky’s home opener is set for March 8 against Dayton — the first of 20 games this season at John Cropp Stadium for the Wildcats.
UK’s non-conference visitors also include Louisville (March 29) and Eastern Kentucky (April 26). Additionally, the Wildcats will host Liberty, DePaul, Michigan and Longwood. The latter three will be here for the John Cropp Classic on March 18-19.
In league play, Kentucky will play home series versus Texas A&M, Tennessee, defending SEC champion Arkansas and Florida.
The Cats will visit Missouri, Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
2023 Kentucky softball schedule
All times Eastern and subject to change
Home games in all capital letters
Feb. 10: St. John’s, 11 a.m.-1
Feb. 10: Louisville, 1:30 p.m.-1
Feb. 11: Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.-1
Feb. 11: Southern, 6:30 p.m.-1
Feb. 12: Texas, 12:30 p.m.-1
Feb. 17: Texas-Arlington, Noon-2
Feb. 17: McNeese State, 2:30 p.m.-2
Feb. 18: South Dakota, 5 p.m.-2
Feb. 18: North Texas, 8:30 p.m.-2
Feb. 19: Sam Houston State, 11 a.m.-2
Feb. 21: At Loyola Marymount, TBA
Feb. 23: Washington, 3 p.m.-3
Feb. 23: San Diego State, 5:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 24: UCLA, 8:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 25: Northwestern, 8:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 25: UC-Riverside, 11 p.m.-3
March 3: Illinois-Chicago, 4 p.m.-4
March 3: At Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m.-4
March 4: Illinois-Chicago, 1:30 p.m.-4
March 4: At Oklahoma, 4 p.m.-4
March 8: DAYTON, TBA
March 10: At Missouri, TBA
March 11: At Missouri, TBA
March 12: At Missouri, TBA
March 14: At Saint Louis, TBA
March 16: LIBERTY, 2 p.m.
March 18: DEPAUL, 3 p.m.-5
March 18: MICHIGAN, 5:30 p.m.-5
March 19: LONGWOOD, 12:30 p.m.-5
March 19: MICHIGAN, 5:30 p.m.-5
March 24: TEXAS A&M, TBA
March 25: TEXAS A&M, TBA
March 26: TEXAS A&M, TBA
March 29: LOUISVILLE, 6:30 p.m.
April 1: At Georgia, TBA
April 2: At Georgia, TBA
April 3: At Georgia, TBA
April 7: At Ole Miss, TBA
April 8: At Ole Miss, TBA
April 9: At Ole Miss, TBA
April 12: At Bellarmine, TBA
April 14: TENNESSEE, TBA
April 15: TENNESSEE, TBA
April 16: TENNESSEE, TBA
April 18: At Northern Kentucky, TBA
April 21: ARKANSAS, TBA
April 22: ARKANSAS, TBA
April 23: ARKANSAS, TBA
April 26: EASTERN KENTUCKY, TBA
April 28: At Mississippi State, TBA
April 29: At Mississippi State, TBA
April 30: At Mississippi State, TBA
May 5: FLORIDA, TBA
May 6: FLORIDA, TBA
May 7: FLORIDA, TBA
May 9-13: SEC Tournament-6
1-NFCA Lead-Off Classic at Clearwater, Fla.; 2-North Texas Tournament at Denton, Texas; 3-Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at Palm Springs, Calif.; 4-Oklahoma Tournament at Norman, Okla.; 5-John Cropp Classic at Lexington; 6-At Fayetteville, Ark.
