The University of Kentucky softball team will open the 2005 season this week, Feb. 4-6, at the Florida International Diamond Fun & Sun Classic in Miami, Fla. The Cats face No. 22 South Florida on Friday, Feb. 4, at 2 p.m. in the season opener. UK faces host-team FIU at 7 p.m.

The three-day tournament continues Saturday, Feb. 5, as UK and Illinois State battle at 10 a.m., followed by a 2 p.m. contest against Southeastern Conference foe Auburn. Play wraps up on Sunday, Feb. 6, with a single-elimination tournament format.

SFU, ISU and AU each open their seasons this weekend, while FIU played last weekend and is currently 1-1 on the year. Both SFU and AU advanced to the NCAA Regionals in 2004.

This marks the first meeting between UK and SFU, while the Cats lead 3-0 all-time against FIU. The Wildcats kicked off the 2004 season at this same tournament and defeated FIU 3-2 on Jan. 30, 2004. ISU leads 3-1 over UK with the last win coming during the 2003 season, while the Tigers lead 13-7 in the all-time series.

The Wildcats return 14 players from a year ago and welcome six freshmen to the 2005 roster.

?We?re excited to start the season and get outside and play,? said first-year head coach Eileen Schmidt. ?This tournament will give us a chance to evaluate our team and allow us to see what areas we need to work on.?