Dec. 12, 2006
Columbia, Mo. - Missouri softball Head Coach Ehren Earleywine released the Tiger's 2007 schedule today. Beginning Feb. 9, the squad will play a minimum of 59 games including 22 against top-25 ranked opponents. Twenty-three of Missouri's games will be at home this year beginning with a doubleheader against UMKC, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007.
The Tigers are scheduled to play in five tournaments including the third annual Tiger Invitational, March 16-18, held at home on University Field. Second-ranked Northwestern is one of four schools competing in the three day tournament along with Columbia College, Western Illinois and Missouri.
Earleywine and his squad will travel to LSU for the Easton Tiger Classic Feb. 9-11, in Baton Rouge, La. Missouri will begin tournament action against Centenary College before taking on teams from Middle Tennessee State, McNeese State and LSU.
The Tigers will pair with their first ranked opponent of the season Friday, Feb. 16, at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. Stanford, who finished 12th in the nation last season, should prove Missouri's first test under the direction of new Head Coach Earleywine.
"Obviously, this schedule is very challenging," Earleywine said. "We play Arizona three times then Arizona State, Washington, LSU, and Stanford, just to name a few....and that's not counting conference play. My biggest challenge with the schedule was trying to fill it. When I came in, the schedule was incomplete and it was tough to find schools that still needed games that late. It was no fault of the former staff, just a timing issue that couldn't be helped. We are just happy to have filled those slots that allow us a chance to play. It was especially important to get our young pitchers as many innings as possible before entering conference and post season play. This whole program is excited about this season and the schedule we have in front of us."
In addition to the Easton Tiger Classic and Stanford Invitational, Missouri will play in the Clarion Inn Lady'Back Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., (Feb. 23-25) and Big 12/Pac 10 Showdown in Tempe, Ariz., (March 9-11).
In between tournaments, the Tigers will take on 2006 World Series Champions Arizona in a three-game series, March 2-4, in Tucson, Ariz.
Big 12 play will begin March 24 in Lubbock, Texas when Missouri opens a two-game series with the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. Five of the 10 league schools with softball programs are currently ranked among the top-25 in the nation, with Texas standing highest at No. 5. Other ranked Big 12 opponents include No. 14 Nebraska, No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 20 Baylor and No. 22 Texas A&M. Of the five ranked league schools, four will be playing their two-game series with the Tigers in Columbia.
The Big 12 Tournament will move from a four to three day tournament this year. Beginning May 10 at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla., the eventual champion will be crowned May 12.
The 2007 schedule can be found by CLICKING HERE