UK Softball Faces Louisville, Texas in 2023 NFCA Lead-Off Classic
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association announced Wednesday that the Kentucky Softball team will be part of the 2023 NFCA Lead-Off Classic on opening weekend of the 2023 NCAA softball season.
The annual Lead-Off Classic takes place at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Tampa/Clearwater, Florida and will once again serve as the host site for the event. Kentucky participated in the re-launch of the Lead-Off Classic in 2020, going 4-0 on the weekend to start that season.
February 10-12 are the dates for 2023 with Kentucky playing two games on Feb. 10, two games on Feb. 11 and the finale being on Sunday, Feb. 12 against 2022 NCAA Women’s College World Series runner’s up, Texas.
The Wildcats will open its 2023 season with a doubleheader against St. John’s and Louisville beginning at 11 a.m. ET on field No. 3 at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. Saturday will see UK play another doubleheader, this time against Pitt to start the day at 4 p.m. ET, followed by a matchup against Southern University at 6:30 p.m. ET on field No. 1.
The tournament for UK closes on Sunday, Feb. 12 against Texas at 12:30 p.m. ET vs. Texas on field No. 1.
The 2023 event will have 16 teams, including three Historically Black College or Universities (HBCU). Kentucky joins Auburn, Missouri and Louisville as return participants from the 2020 edition of the Lead-Off Classic, the last time it was held.
The full schedule of all six fields and all 16 teams for the entire weekend can be found here.
2023 NFCA Lead-Off Classic
Clearwater, Fla. – Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex
Friday, Feb. 10
11 a.m. ET – Kentucky vs. St. John’s [Field 3]
1:30 p.m. ET – Kentucky vs. Louisville [Field 3]
Saturday, Feb. 11
4 p.m. ET – Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh [Field 1]
6:30 p.m. ET – Kentucky vs. Southern [Field 1]
Sunday, Feb. 12
12:30 p.m. ET – Kentucky vs. Texas [Field 1]
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
