Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge is back for its eighth edition, bringing some of the best teams in U.S. college softball to the sunny shores of Mexico. The tournament will be held over two sessions, from February 8th to 11th and February 14th to 18th, at the Nancy Almaraz field within the Unidad Deportiva Agustín Flores Contreras (Municipal Sports Stadium).
The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge began in 2015 and has evolved into one of the premier tournaments designed to launch the softball season. It was the first-ever D-I softball event held outside the United States and has included programs from well-known Power 5 conferences as well as the deep pool of strong mid-major schools — the Mexican Olympic team also played in the tournament in 2020.
This year’s event features 16 teams, including national champions, national all-Americans, and six preseason Top 15 teams. Here’s the schedule for both sessions:
SESSION 1 SCHEDULE
(all times CT)
Feb. 8
10:30 am – Utah Valley vs. Oklahoma
1:00 pm – Duke vs. Oklahoma
4:00 pm – Iowa State vs. Utah Valley
6:30 pm – Nebraska vs. Washington
Feb. 9
10:00 am – Duke vs. Iowa State
12:30 pm – Duke vs. Nebraska
3:00 pm – Long Beach vs. Nebraska
6:00 pm – Utah Valley vs. Washington
8:30 pm – Oklahoma vs. Washington
Feb. 10
10:30 am – Nebraska vs. Utah Valley
1:00 pm – Oklahoma vs. Long Beach
4:00 pm – Washington vs. Iowa State
6:30 pm – Duke vs. Long Beach
Feb. 11
10:00 am – Iowa State vs. Long Beach
SESSION 2 SCHEDULE
(all time CT)
Feb. 14
12:00 pm – Clemson vs. Wichita State
Feb. 15
10:00 am – UC San Diego vs. Clemson
12:30 pm – UC Davis vs. Auburn
3:00 pm – Utah vs. Auburn
6:00 pm – Wichita State vs. South Carolina
8:30 pm – Utah vs. South Carolina
Feb. 16
10:00 am – Mississippi State vs. UC Davis
12:30 pm – South Carolina vs. UC Davis
3:00 pm – UC San Diego vs. Mississippi State
6:00 pm – Clemson vs. Utah
8:30 pm – Auburn vs. Wichita State
Feb. 17
10:00 am – South Carolina vs. UC San Diego
12:30 pm – UC Davis vs. Wichita State
3:00 pm – Clemson vs. Auburn
6:00 pm – Mississippi State vs. Utah
8:30 pm – Mississippi State vs. Clemson
Feb. 18
10:00 am – UC San Diego vs. Utah
“We’re excited to welcome back the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge,” said tournament director Dave King. “This event has become a tradition for softball fans, and we’re looking forward to another great year of competition.”
All games will be streamed live by FloSoftball, so fans can catch all the action from anywhere in the world. There will also be plenty of fun for fans in attendance, with local vendors selling food and drinks, and other entertainment options available in the surrounding area.
The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge is more than just a softball tournament; it’s an opportunity to experience the beauty and culture of Puerto Vallarta. The city is a safe and easy-to-navigate destination, with plenty of activities to keep visitors entertained.
So whether you’re a die-hard softball fan or just looking for a fun vacation getaway, the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge is the perfect event for you. For more information, visit pvcollegechallenge.com.