College softball 2022 – Previewing the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational

Three teams that reached last year’s Women’s College World Series are among the 16 competing in the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational this weekend.

From Thursday through Sunday, there will be 40 games across ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, Longhorn Network and ESPN+ in one of the biggest early-season tournaments in college softball.

The invitational starts with Notre Dame-Tennessee on Thursday (10 a.m. ET, ESPNU/ESPN App) and concludes with UCLA-Florida State on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN App) in a battle between the 2019 and 2018 national champions.

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

Auburn Tigers

2021 record: 27-24 (eliminated in NCAA regional)

Tournament schedule: vs. Texas Tech (Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
at Wisconsin (Friday, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+)
at Texas (Friday, 4 p.m. ET, Longhorn Network)
vs. UCLA (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, ESPNU)
at South Florida (Sunday, noon ET, ESPN+)

X factor: LHP Shelby Lowe. The lefty emerged as the Tigers’ go-to pitcher in short order as a freshman last season, throwing 105 more innings than the next closest player on the roster. But she wasn’t simply a workhorse for coach Mickey Dean. Shelby went 13-11 in 26 starts. She walked only 28 batters and posted a 1.48 ERA, becoming the first Auburn freshman pitcher ever to earn a spot on the All-SEC team.

Clemson Tigers

2021 record: 44-8 (eliminated in NCAA regional)

Tournament schedule: vs. Texas Tech (Thursday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN)
vs. Tennessee (Friday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
vs. Northwestern (Saturday, 11 a.m. ET, ACCN)
vs. Wisconsin (Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
vs. Washington (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET, ESPNU)

X factor: RHP/UTL Valerie Cagle. Not only did she lead the team in hits (63), RBIs…