Opponent, game time for Missouri softball in 2024 SEC Softball Tournament opener
The Tigers closed the regular season on a high.
Missouri softball picked up both its first road series win and its first SEC sweep of the season, taking down South Carolina in three consecutive games Friday through Sunday in Columbia, South Carolina, finishing the weekend with a marathon 10-inning, 5-2 win.
That came in a timely fashion.
Next up for the Tigers is a trip to Auburn, Alabama, for the 2024 SEC Softball Tournament. The recent road sweep separated the Tigers at the top end of a tightly packed group in the middle of the conference standings, meaning they’ll take the No. 5 seed into the conference tournament. Three teams finished within one game of MU in the final SEC standings.
“Everyone’s goal is to win,” Missouri coach Larissa Anderson told local media over Zoom on Tuesday afternoon. “You don’t play at this level to not win. Holding up that trophy would be an experience that Mizzou would love, that our program would love. It would be a first SEC championship, so we’re going out to try to win a title. That’s what we’re trying to do, and at the same time we’re building our (regional) résumé.”
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Missouri (40-14) had its first 40-win regular season of the Anderson tenure, which began in 2019. Mizzou went 42-17 in 2021, but racked up four postseason wins that year, including an NCAA Super Regional victory.
The Tigers are firmly in the conversation to host an NCAA Regional this season. Regional hosts will be announced during a live selection show Sunday, one day after the conclusion of the SEC Softball Tournament. The USA Today and NFCA Coaches Poll handed the Tigers the No. 11 ranking in the nation in their latest poll.
First: Mizzou has its conference tournament to deal with.
Here is everything you need to know about the Tigers’ postseason opener, including their seed, opponent and game time:
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Who does Missouri softball play in 2024 SEC Softball Tournament?
Last year, Missouri was in the conference tournament’s play-in game. This season, with the No. 5 seed in hand, the Tigers will face the winner of the No. 12-13 seed matchup, Ole Miss. No. 13-seeded Mississippi defeated Kentucky 7-2 on Tuesday evening in Auburn.
Missouri softball’s 13-11 mark in SEC play was its best since 2021. The Tigers did not face Mississippi (31-24) during the regular season.
The Rebels were 7-17 in regular-season league play this season. Their matchup against the Wildcats finished shortly after 8:30 p.m. CDT.
If Missouri defeats Ole Miss on Wednesday, it will face No. 4-seeded Arkansas in the quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.
Last season, Mizzou won the No. 12 vs. 13-seed game before falling to Alabama in the next round. In 2022, the Tigers made it to the SEC title game, where they lost to Arkansas.
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What time does Missouri’s postseason opener begin?
When: 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday (or 35 minutes after the conclusion of the 10 a.m. game)
Where: Auburn, Alabama (Jane B. Moore Field)
Missouri's game against Mississippi is the second game of the day, which has an anticipated start time of 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday. That is subject to change, as the first pitch is scheduled for 35 minutes following the conclusion of the day’s first game.
No. 8 LSU and No. 9 Alabama will square off beginning at 10 a.m. to open the day’s contests. The current forecast in Auburn shows the potential for thunderstorms, which could impact the schedule.
How to watch Missouri in the SEC Softball Tournament?
TV Channel: SEC Network
Streaming:Fubo (free trial)
All four of Wednesday’s games at the SEC Softball Tournament will air on SEC Network, which also will carry the full quarterfinal slate. Missouri’s game against Ole Miss also is available to watch on the streaming platform Fubo, which offers a free trial.
If Missouri makes it to Friday's semifinals, you can catch the Tigers on ESPN2. The championship game will air Saturday on ESPN.
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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Opponent, game time for Missouri softball in SEC Softball Tournament opener
