Feb 18, 2023 - 17:05
By espn.com

College softball 2023: Clearwater Elite Invitational preview

Three college softball teams that reached last year's Women's College World Series headline the 2023 TaxAct Clearwater Elite Invitational this weekend.

For the fourth straight year, 16 teams — including 12 ranked in the preseason Top 25 — will compete in one of the biggest early season tournaments of the year.

There are 40 games from Thursday through Sunday televised on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN+ and the ESPN App.

The invitational starts Thursday at 10 a.m. ET when No. 3 Oklahoma State, which reached the WCWS semifinals a season ago, faces Texas A&M and new coach Trisha Ford. On Sunday, No. 4 Florida State plays No. 7 Alabama at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by Mississippi State-No. 18 UCF on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET.

We break down each team and let you know how and when you can watch them over the next four days.

2022 record: 44-13 (eliminated in Tuscaloosa Regional)

Tournament schedule (all times ET): vs. Duke (Thursday, 1 p.m., SECN) at UCLA (Friday, 4 p.m., ESPN2) vs. UCF (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPN+) at Indiana (Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN+) vs. Florida State (Sunday, 5 p.m., ESPN)

X factor: RHP Montana Fouts. The three-time All-American, three-time Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist and 2021 SEC Co-Pitcher of the Year has one more chance to add WCWS champion to her long list of accolades. Her 1.72 career ERA is the lowest on Alabama's pitching staff, and in 2022 she led the Crimson Tide with 275 strikeouts and a .193 opponent batting average.

2022 record: 39-22 (eliminated in WCWS quarterfinals)

Tournament schedule (all times