Jan. 18, 2017
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Auburn softball team was tabbed to finish second in the SEC for the 2017 season after a vote of the 13 conference head coaches in the annual preseason poll.
The Tigers earned 126 points with two first-place votes through a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 point system. Florida was picked to win the league with 141 points and nine first-place votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Auburn, the back-to-back defending SEC Tournament champions, have set a program record with 58 and 56 wins in the past two seasons, respectively. The Tigers were voted to finish third in 2016 and seventh in 2015.
The 2017 season gets underway for Auburn, Feb. 9-11, when it travels to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a four-game tournament, beginning with a doubleheader against Oklahoma and Washington, Feb. 9.
The Tigers open SEC play with a three-game series versus LSU, March 10-12, at Jane B. Moore Field.
This season’s conference tournament is set be hosted by Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., May 10-13.
2017 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Florida (9) 141
2. Auburn (2) 126
3. Alabama 118
LSU (1) 118
5. Tennessee 98
6. Texas A&M (1) 83
7. Georgia 78
8. Kentucky 75
9. Missouri 53
10. Ole Miss 45
11. South Carolina 38
12. Mississippi State 28
13. Arkansas 13
First-place votes in parentheses