@MizzouSoftball Announces Tentative 2017 Schedule
12/13/2016 12:32:00 PM | Softball
Tigers set for first season at new Mizzou Field
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball begins its quest for another deep NCAA postseason run on Feb. 10 with the Charleston Southern Tournament in Charleston, S.C., as head coach Ehren Earleywine announced the Tigers' tentative 2017 schedule on Thursday.
The complete 2017 Mizzou Softball schedule can be found here. Further details on TV and radio coverage for select games this season will be announced at a later date.
The Tigers will host 23 games at the brand new Mizzou Softball Stadium this upcoming season, highlighted by a three-day tournament in Columbia, Mo. (March 3-5). Oregon, who finished No. 10 in the final NFCA top 25 coaches poll last year, highlights the Tigers' opponents at the 2017 Mizzou Tournament.
Top Southeastern Conference home matchups this upcoming season include Alabama (March 31 – April 2) and Kentucky (April 21-23). The Crimson Tide and Wildcats finished No. 6 and No. 18, respectively, in the final 2016 NFCA Coaches poll.
Following their season-opening three-day stretch in Charleston, S.C., the Tigers next travel to Tempe, Ariz., for the Arizona State Littlewood Classic (Feb. 17-19). Four days later, Mizzou travels west to Cathedral City, Calif., for the Mary Nutter Classic (Feb. 23-25). The Tigers will be joined by Notre Dame, Texas, Washington and Nebraska to round out a talented group of participants.
Washington finished last year ranked No. 13 in the final NFCA Coaches poll, while Notre Dame checked in at No. 23 overall.
The Tigers open March with six games over three days at the 2017 Mizzou Tournament. Mizzou will play a pair of contests against Oregon and Maryland, as well as single games versus Stephen F. Austin and Butler.
Earleywine and the Tigers begin its 2017 SEC schedule with a trip to Florida (March 11-13). The Gators are the defending SEC Champions and finished No. 8 in last year's final NFCA Coaches poll. Additionally, Mizzou's trip to Gainesville, Fla., will mark its lone Saturday-Monday conference series this season.
Mizzou concludes its early-season schedule with an east coast trip to Clearwater, Fla., for the South Florida Michele Smith-Clearwater Parks and Rec Spring Tournament (March 17-19). The Tigers are once again slated for five games over a three-day stretch.
Conference action continues with a weekend trip to Texas A&M (March 24-26). The Aggies finished No. 19 in the final 2016 NFCA Coaches poll. Next, Mizzou travels to Wichita State (March 29) for its second mid-week doubleheader of the year. Tigers fans finally get their first home SEC series of the season, as Alabama makes the trek to Mid-Missouri.
Beginning with its weekend stretch against the Crimson Tide, Mizzou is scheduled for a season-long 10-game homestand at Mizzou Field (March 31 – April 11). The Tigers will host Southeast Missouri State (April 5) and Western Illinois (April 11) for mid-week doubleheaders, while conference foe Arkansas (April 7-9) is sandwiched in between for a weekend series.
Mizzou's final four SEC matchups of the season will alternate between home and away series. First, the Tigers travel to Auburn (April 14-16) followed by a home weekend against Kentucky (April 21-23). Mizzou concludes conference play with a visit to LSU (April 28-30) and its home finale against Ole Miss (May 5-7).
Auburn and LSU conclude a challenging 2017 SEC schedule for the Tigers, as the two teams finished No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the final NFCA Coaches poll a season ago.
2017 postseason play begins with the SEC Tournament (May 10-13) in Knoxville, Tenn. NCAA Regionals (May 19-21) and NCAA Super Regionals (May 25-28) will take place the following two weekends. For the 27th time in Division I Softball Championship history, this year's NCAA Women's College World Series (June 1-7) will transpire in Oklahoma City, Okla.
For Mizzou Softball ticket information, visit MUTigers.com/BuyTickets or call 1-800-CAT-PAWS (locally: 573-884-7297).
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).
