COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball officially begins its prep for the upcoming 2017 season with a special late night practice on Monday, Jan. 9. Head Coach Ehren Earleywine and the Tigers will meet inside Devine Pavilion beginning at 12 a.m. (CT), as the clock transitions from Monday to Tuesday.

The late night practice is open to the general public, as fans are encouraged to catch a glimpse of an exciting Tigers practice. Fans interested in attending the season-opening practice can park outside the Mizzou Athletics Training Complex (MATC) and enter through the main doors of the Devine Pavilion.

Coach Earleywine and the Tigers open the 2017 campaign from Feb. 10-12 at the Charleston Southern Tournament. Mizzou will compete in five games over three days in Charleston, S.C., highlighted by two matchups against James Madison. The Dukes finished No. 11 in the final USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches Poll a season ago.

A season ago, Mizzou made its 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals (2007-16). The Tigers' dominating 3-0 weekend at University Field last May secured their eighth NCAA Regional Championship since 2008.

Mizzou also fared well in the final national rankings, placing 12th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and 15th in the NFCA Division I Coaches/USA Today poll. The Tigers have ranked in the top 25 national polls for 129 consecutive weeks, dating back to the final poll of the 2008 campaign.

Visit MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou Softball. You can also find the Tigers on social media by liking us on Facebook (University of Missouri Softball Team) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball).