Kentucky softball team opens 2022 season with 16 road games in three different cities
The University of Kentucky softball team revealed the non-conference portion of its 2022 schedule on Wednesday, meaning its full slate for the upcoming season is now complete.
Before embarking on its 24-game Southeastern Conference lineup, the Wildcats will play 31 non-league contests, beginning with their season opener against Wisconsin on Feb. 10.
The game against Wisconsin is one of six UK will play in the 12-team Northern Lights Southern Nights event at Leesburg, Fla., from Feb. 10-13.
Kentucky will face two teams in Florida that were ranked in the final coaches’ poll of last season — No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 25 Liberty. The Cats also take on three Big Ten schools — Iowa, Michigan State and Wisconsin — plus Hofstra.
UK immediately heads west from there, playing five games in the Hillenbrand Invitational in Tucson, Ariz., from Feb. 18-20. The highlight is a matchup with Arizona, which finished No. 7 last season and played in the Women’s College World Series. Kentucky then returns to Florida — Boca Raton this time — for five games in the StrikeOut Cancer Classic from Feb. 24-26.
Kentucky begins its first home stand of the season March 3, with its home opener against Michigan in the annual John Cropp Classic. Michigan closed last season ranked No. 19.
Kentucky will face four in-state foes as part of its non-conference schedule. The Wildcats host Northern Kentucky on April 26 and visit Louisville (April 6), Bellarmine (April 12) and Eastern Kentucky (April 20).
All told, including SEC games, Kentucky will play 30 games against schools that played in last season’s NCAA Tournament, 23 home games and 32 road games.
Kentucky’s eight series against SEC schools feature seven opponents that participated in the NCAA Tournament in 2021, including one that made it to the College World Series.
UK, which bowed out in the super-regional round of the NCAA Tournament with a 43-16 overall record last season, will host three-game weekend SEC series against Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri. The Wildcats will travel to Alabama, Arkansas, LSU and South Carolina.
Of those eight opponents, only South Carolina did not reach the postseason in 2021. Alabama advanced to the College World Series by defeating UK in a super regional. Arkansas, LSU and Missouri also reached the super-regional round last season.
Arkansas tied Florida for the regular-season SEC championship in 2021. Alabama won the SEC Tournament. Kentucky wound up 13-11 in the SEC, tying for fifth place in the regular season.
Kentucky’s 2022 softball schedule
Home games in capital letters
Times, TV to be announced later
Feb. 10: Wisconsin-1
Feb. 11: Michigan State-1
Feb. 11: Liberty-1
Feb. 12: Hofstra-1
Feb. 12: Iowa-1
Feb. 13: Virginia Tech-1
Feb. 18: UC Santa Barbara-2
Feb. 18: Loyola-Marymount-2
Feb. 19: Long Beach State-2
Feb. 19: At Arizona-2
Feb. 20: UC Santa Barbara-2
Feb. 24: Jacksonville-3
Feb. 24: At Florida Atlantic-3
Feb. 25: Michigan State-3
Feb. 25: Columbia-3
Feb. 26: Long Island-3
March 3: MICHIGAN-4
March 4: DRAKE-4
March 4: MICHIGAN-4
March 5: KENT STATE-4
March 11: BUFFALO-5
March 12: CENTRAL MICHIGAN-5
March 12: VALPARAISO-5
March 13: BUFFALO-5
March 16: At Miami (Ohio)
March 18-20: At Alabama
March 22: STANFORD
March 25-27: AUBURN
March 29: OHIO STATE
April 1-3: At LSU
April 6: At Louisville
April 8-10: OLE MISS
April 12: At Bellarmine
April 15-17: At Arkansas
April 20: At Eastern Kentucky
April 22-24: MISSOURI
April 26: NORTHERN KENTUCKY
April 29-May 1: MISSISSIPPI STATE
May 6-8: At South Carolina
May 10-14: SEC Tournament at Gainesville, Fla.
1-Northern Lights Southern Nights at Leesburg, Fla.; 2-Hillenbrand Invitational at Tucson, Ariz.; 3-StrikeOut Cancer Classic at Boca Raton, Fla.; 4-John Cropp Classic in Lexington; 5-Bluegrass Classic in Lexington.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 6:52 PM.