2023 Southeastern Conference softball season explained

2023 SEC Softball Season
Color:
  1. 193980
Color Text:white
League:NCAA Division I
Sport:Softball
No Of Teams:13
Season:Regular Season
Season Champs:Tennessee
Season Champ Name:2023 SEC Champions
Finals:Tournament
Finals Link:2023 Southeastern Conference softball tournament
Finals Champ:Tennessee
Finals Runner-Up:South Carolina
Finals Mvp:Kiki Milloy (Tennessee)
Seasonslistnames:Softball
Prevseason Link:2022 Southeastern Conference softball season
Prevseason Year:2022
Nextseason Link:2024 Southeastern Conference softball season
Nextseason Year:2024

The 2023 SEC softball season began play Thursday, February 9, and conference play began on Friday, March 10. Tennessee clinched the regular season conference championship on May 6.[1] Tennessee also won the 2023 Southeastern Conference softball tournament which took place from May 9–13 at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Vanderbilt University is the only full member of the Southeastern Conference to not sponsor a softball program.[2] Of the 13 teams in the SEC, 12 played in the NCAA tournament. Of the top 16 seeds hosting Regionals, five are from the SEC.[3] Three of the five win their Regionals, being the only SEC teams to win Regionals. Two of the three win their Super Regionals and advance to the 2023 Women's College World Series (WCWS).

SEC preseason poll

The head coaches SEC preseason poll was released on January 26, 2023. Each head coach votes on a scale of 12 points for first place down to 1 point for last place, 12th. Each coach only votes for 12 teams, since they can not vote for their own team. Florida was picked to finish 1st, with five 1st place votes. Tennessee was 2nd with three 1st place votes, and Arkansas 3rd with the remaining five 1st place votes.[4]

Preseason poll
1 Florida
2 Tennessee
3 Arkansas
4 Alabama
5 LSU
6 Georgia
7 Kentucky
8 Missouri
9 Auburn
10 Ole Miss
11 Mississippi State
12 Texas A&M
13 South Carolina

Record vs. conference opponents

Tie brkrs: ARK>ALA hd to hd.[5] [6]

National rankings

All games, for the weeks ending May 21 through June 9 were played in the NCAA tournament and the Women's College World Series (WCWS). The SEC had 12 of 13 teams play in the NCAA tournament, Mississippi State being the only team to not play. All playing, except for Kentucky and Missouri, made a Regional final and three, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, won Regionals to advance to Super Regionals. Tennessee and Alabama won their Super Regionals to advance to the WCWS, while Georgia lost in a Super Regional. Finishes, e.g., 3rd, 7th, etc., are finishes in the NCAA tournament. They are not necessarily the same positions in any of the polls.

[7] [8]

NFCA/USA Today

The 14th poll was after the conference tournaments and before the NCAA tournament. The 15th poll, after the NCAA tournament, is the final poll. See 2023 NCAA Division I softball rankings#NFCA/USA Today also.

Week0123456789101112131415class=unsortable
TENN1311127754457434443TENN
ALA915111313161617161614161414127ALA
data-sort-value=GUGA15121718191817151412121111131414UGA
LSU25181515141215141213151315111116LSU
ARK7476691210810111212121317ARK
AUB21212019181921191921191717161620AUB
FLA4338888111515131416182021FLA
KEN20171817161413161717202023222224KEN
data-sort-value=TEXTAMUdata-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=2624data-sort-value=26252423252525data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26TAMU
data-sort-value=MOMIZZdata-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27242425data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27MIZZ
MSU23data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28MSU
data-sort-value=OMISSdata-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29MISS
SCARdata-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29SCAR
[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

D1Softball

The 13th poll was after the end of the regular season, before the conference tournaments, then the 14th poll, after the NCAA tournament, is the final poll. See 2023 NCAA Division I softball rankings#D1Softball also.

Week01234567891011121314class=unsortable
TENN12911444334733444TENN
ALA612612101915161515131614168ALA
data-sort-value=GUGA108141818189886776711UGA
ARK8410891517129121113121417ARK
LSU17171298810111011141215918LSU
AUB192318202224data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=262015131520AUB
data-sort-value=TEXTAMUdata-sort-value=272519222113201514142122232223TAMU
FLA5341313101118data-sort-value=2823182122data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28FLA
KEN1615161417981417192324data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29KEN
SCARdata-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=3025data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30SCAR
data-sort-value=MOMIZZdata-sort-value=31data-sort-value=312524data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31data-sort-value=31MIZZ
data-sort-value=OMISS25data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32data-sort-value=32MISS
MSUdata-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33data-sort-value=33MSU
[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]

ESPN/USA Softball Collegiate

The 14th poll was after the conference tournaments and before the NCAA tournament. The 15th poll, after the NCAA tournament, is the final poll. See 2023 NCAA Division I softball rankings#ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 also.

Week0123456789101112131415class=unsortable
TENN12896553356434444TENN
ALA712799131314141413161413117ALA
data-sort-value=GUGA131016161817161089111110111212UGA
ARK64877121711911121212121317ARK
AUB21212021212225232324211715151719AUB
LSU20181415141012121112151416141520LSU
FLA53310121110131815141517212021FLA
SCARdata-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=26data-sort-value=2623SCAR
data-sort-value=TEXTAMUdata-sort-value=27data-sort-value=27data-sort-value=2725data-sort-value=2721242119212423232325data-sort-value=27TAMU
KEN171618171614111615162022data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28data-sort-value=28KEN
data-sort-value=MOMIZZ2323212323data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29data-sort-value=29MIZZ
MSUdata-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30MSU
data-sort-value=OMISSdata-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30data-sort-value=30MISS
[39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54]

All-SEC teams

On May 12, SEC officials announced their softball awards for the 2023 season. Skylar Wallace of Florida was selected as Player of the Year, Maddie Penta of Auburn was named Pitcher of the Year, and Karlyn Pickens of Tennessee was Freshman of the Year, and Karen Weekly of Tennessee was chosen as the Coach of the Year.[55]

[56]

The All-SEC Teams consist of 21 student-athletes on the First Team, 21 student-athletes on the Second Team, and a nine-member All-Defensive Team:

All-SEC First Team

All-SEC Second Team

SEC All-Defensive Team

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tennessee clinches first SEC regular-season softball title in 16 years. May 6, 2023 . May 9, 2023 . Chattanooga Times Free Press.
  2. Web site: 2023 SEC softball: Bracket, schedule, scores, TV times for the tournament . May 13, 2023 . NCAA . May 16, 2023.
  3. Web site: NCAA Division I Softball Committee announces 2023 championship field . NCAA . May 14, 2023 . May 16, 2023.
  4. Web site: Florida Predicted to Win 2023 SEC Softball Season. January 26, 2023 . SEC Sports . March 22, 2023.
  5. Web site: Weekly Release. May 16, 2023 . ESPN . May 16, 2023.
  6. Web site: 2023 SEC Softball Schedule Announced. January 26, 2023 . SEC Sports. March 28, 2023.
  7. Web site: 2023 SEC softball: Bracket, schedule, scores, TV times for the tournament . May 13, 2023 . May 16, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  8. Web site: College softball 2023: NCAA tournament scores . May 21, 2023 . May 23, 2023 . NCAA.
  9. Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Preseason) . January 31, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  10. Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 1) . February 14, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  11. Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 2). February 20, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  12. Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 3). February 27, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  13. Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 4). March 6, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  14. Web site: USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 5). March 13, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  15. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 6). March 20, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  16. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 7). March 27, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  17. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 8). April 2, 2023 . April 11, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  18. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 9). April 9, 2023 . April 18, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  19. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 10). April 16, 2023 . April 25, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  20. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 11). April 23, 2023 . May 2, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  21. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 12). April 30, 2023 . May 9, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  22. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 13). May 7, 2023 . May 16, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  23. Web site: USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll (Week 14). May 14, 2023 . June 13, 2023 . National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
  24. Web site: 2023 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings [Week 0] ]. D1Softball . January 17, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  25. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 1] ]. D1Softball . February 13, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  26. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 Rankings [Week 2] ]. D1Softball . February 20, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  27. Web site: D1Softball s Top 25 Rankings [Week 3] ]. D1Softball . February 27, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  28. Web site: D1Softball s Top 25 Rankings [Week 4] ]. D1Softball . March 6, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  29. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 5] ]. D1Softball . March 13, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  30. Web site: D1Softball s Top 25 [Week 6] ]. D1Softball . March 20, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  31. Web site: D1Softball s Top 25 [Week 7] ]. D1Softball . March 26, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  32. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 8] ]. D1Softball . April 3, 2023 . April 5, 2023.
  33. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 9] ]. D1Softball . April 10, 2023 . April 11, 2023.
  34. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 10] ]. D1Softball . April 17, 2023 . April 17, 2023.
  35. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 11] ]. D1Softball . April 24, 2023 . April 25, 2023.
  36. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 12] ]. D1Softball . May 1, 2023 . May 2, 2023.
  37. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Week 13] ]. D1Softball . May 7, 2023 . May 9, 2023.
  38. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 [Final] ]. D1Softball . Jun 12, 2023 . Jun 12, 2023.
  39. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Preseason . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124160558/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls . dead . January 24, 2023 . USA Softball . January 24, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  40. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Week 1 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230214185742/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-1 . dead . February 14, 2023 . USA Softball . February 14, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  41. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Week 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221191018/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-2. dead. February 21, 2023. USA Softball . February 21, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  42. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Week 3 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230228203724/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-3. dead. February 28, 2023. USA Softball . February 28, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  43. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Week 4 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230307201900/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-4. dead. March 7, 2023. USA Softball . March 7, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  44. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Week 5 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314182808/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-5. dead. March 14, 2023. USA Softball . March 14, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  45. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Week 6 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321190717/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-6. dead. March 21, 2023. USA Softball . March 21, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  46. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Week 7 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328172757/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-7. dead. March 28, 2023. USA Softball . March 28, 2023 . April 4, 2023.
  47. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Week 8 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404173333/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-8. dead. April 4, 2023. USA Softball . April 4, 2023 . April 5, 2023.
  48. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Week 9 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230412001652/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-9. dead. April 12, 2023. USA Softball . April 11, 2023 . April 11, 2023.
  49. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Week 10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418183304/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-10. dead. April 18, 2023. USA Softball . April 18, 2023 . April 18, 2023.
  50. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Week 11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425172344/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-11. dead. April 25, 2023. USA Softball . April 25, 2023 . April 25, 2023.
  51. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Week 12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230502185348/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-12. dead. May 2, 2023. USA Softball . May 2, 2023 . May 2, 2023.
  52. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Week 13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230509223547/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-13. dead. May 9, 2023. USA Softball . May 9, 2023 . May 9, 2023.
  53. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Week 14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516201735/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-14. dead. May 16, 2023. USA Softball . May 16, 2023 . May 16, 2023.
  54. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 – Final . https://web.archive.org/web/20230613182222/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/NCAA-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Final. dead. June 13, 2023. USA Softball . June 13, 2023 . June 13, 2023.
  55. Web site: SEC announces 2023 SEC softball awards . usatoday.com . May 12, 2023 . May 15, 2024.
  56. Web site: Florida's Skylar Wallace named SEC Softball Player of the Year . secsports.com . May 13, 2023 . May 15, 2023.