Kentucky’s 2024 softball schedule loaded with dangerous opponents from coast to coast
The University of Kentucky softball team opens its 2024 schedule with appearances in four invitationals and 20 games from coast to coast before finally playing its first home game almost a month into the season.
The Wildcats’ 57-game slate includes 21 home games and 36 played elsewhere as they try to improve on a 2023 season in which they finished 31-22-1 overall and 10-14 in the Southeastern Conference before being eliminated in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
Kentucky, entering its 17th season under head coach Rachel Lawson, will face four teams who took part in last season’s Women’s College World Series, including Alabama and Tennessee from the SEC along with Stanford and Washington from the Pac-12.
The Cats will face 17 teams all-told who took part in last season’s NCAA Tournament. In addition to the four WCWS teams, that list includes Auburn, Charlotte, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Louisville, Minnesota, Northern Kentucky, San Diego State, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M and UCF.
In league play, UK will play home series against LSU, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina and visit Florida, Texas A&M, Auburn and Tennessee.
In-state opponents include Bellarmine — for UK’s home opener on March 6 — along with NKU, Louisville, Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky.
Kentucky’s invitational segment of the 2024 season starts Feb. 9 at San Diego State University, where the Wildcats will twice face 2023 CWS combatant Stanford along with three other foes.
Then, it’s on to Clearwater, Florida, for the ESPN Shriners Children’s Invitational Feb. 15-17, where CWS participant Washington awaits.
The Cats follow that up with appearances in showcases at South Carolina-Upstate and Charlotte.
UK hosts its annual John Cropp Classic March 15-17 against a field that includes Ohio State, South Dakota State and Columbia.
2024 Kentucky softball schedule
Home games in capital letters. All times Eastern. Broadcast details and additional game times to be announced later.
Feb. 9: UC Santa Barbara, 1 p.m.-1
Feb. 9: Stanford, 3:30 p.m.-1
Feb. 10: Stanford-1, Noon-1
Feb. 10: San Diego State, 7:30 p.m.-1
Feb. 11: Minnesota, 1 p.m.-1
Feb. 15: North Carolina, 11 a.m.-2
Feb. 15: Wisconsin, 5 p.m.-2
Feb. 16: Washington, 9 a.m.-2
Feb. 17: UCF, 1 p.m.-2
Feb. 17: Texas, 7 p.m.-2
Feb. 23: Akron, 12:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 23: South Carolina-Upstate, 5:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 24: Monmouth, 10 a.m.-3
Feb. 24: Akron, 12:30 p.m.-3
Feb. 25: South Carolina-Upstate, 12:30 p.m.-3
March 1: Fordham, 3 p.m.-4
March 1: Charlotte, 6 p.m.-4
March 2: Minnesota, 12:30 p.m.-4
March 2: Charlotte, 3 p.m.-4
March 3: Fordham, 10 a.m.-4
March 6: BELLARMINE, 5 p.m.
March 8: LSU
March 9: LSU
March 10: LSU
March 13: At Lipscomb
March 15: OHIO STATE, 3 p.m.-5
March 15: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, 5:30 p.m.-5
March 16: COLUMBIA, 3 p.m.-5
March 16: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE, 5:30 p.m.-5
March 17: OHIO STATE, 1 p.m.-5
March 20: MARSHALL
March 22: At Florida
March 23: At Florida
March 24: At Florida
March 26: DAYTON
March 28: ALABAMA
March 29: ALABAMA
March 30: ALABAMA
April 3: NORTHERN KENTUCKY
April 5: At Texas A&M
April 6: At Texas A&M
April 7: At Texas A&M
April 10: At Louisville
April 12: GEORGIA
April 13: GEORGIA
April 14: GEORGIA
April 17: At Western Kentucky
April 20: At Auburn
April 21: At Auburn
April 22: At Auburn
April 26: SOUTH CAROLINA
April 27: SOUTH CAROLINA
April 28: SOUTH CAROLINA
April 30: At Eastern Kentucky
May 3: At Tennessee
May 4: At Tennessee
May 5: At Tennessee
May 7-11: SEC Tournament-6
1-SDSU Season Kickoff at San Diego State; 2-ESPN Shriners Children’s Invitational at Clearwater, Florida; 3-Wings ETC Classic at Spartanburg, South Carolina; 4-Queen City Classic at Charlotte, North Carolina; 5-John Cropp Classic at UK; 6-At Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.
Kentucky baseball takes aim at College World Series with challenging 2024 schedule
