With two weeks to go until the NCAA Tournament selection show, the college baseball field of 64 is still wide open. This season lacks a clear dominant team the way 2022 had Tennessee or 2023 featured Wake Forest.

“When you look at South Carolina, they have 17 top 25 wins and that was key in that area,” NCAA softball committee chair Kurt McGuffin told ESPN. “They went and challenged themselves all year. Six of those top 25 wins were out of conference, so we like to see teams where the nonconference and conference schedule is really challenging.”

Auburn's first Regional Round contest is set for 11 AM CST on May 16 against South Florida in Tallahassee. If the Tigers can claim victory, Mickey Dean's squad will play for a chance to make a Regional Championship appearance against the winner of Robert Morris/Florida State a day later at 2 PM CST.