AMERICUS, Ga. -- The 2018 Georgia Southwestern State University softball season opens this weekend, February 3-4, with the Lady Canes headed to the Southern Softball Showdown at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga.

The annual tournament features teams from the Peach Belt Conference, Gulf South Conference and Sunshine State Conference. PBC members Flagler, Georgia College and Columbus State join GSW in this year's showdown.

The Lady Canes open the season Saturday at 3:00 p.m. vs. Palm Beach Atlantic, followed by a 5:00 p.m. matchup with Mississippi College. Sunday's two-game set for GSW begins at 12:30 p.m. against Embry-Riddle and wraps up with a 3:00 p.m. first pitch vs. Union (TN).

Palm Beach Atlantic and Mississippi College both received votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) preseason poll.

Play begins Saturday on three fields at South Commons at 10:00 am. There will be four rounds of games with start times at 12:30 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm. A fourth field will be used Sunday for three rounds of games. All participating teams will play two games per day.

Valdosta State, Mississippi College, Montevallo and Union University are representing the Gulf South Conference. The Sunshine State Conference teams included are Florida Tech, Palm Beach Atlantic, Lynn and Embry-Riddle.

Tickets are $10 per day and can be purchased at the front gate of the softball complex on both days of competition. Senior citizens, active military and children under 12 will be charged $5.

The complete schedule along with directions and hotel information can be found on the official tournament website here.