Mizzou Softball Announces 2020 Schedule
11/20/2019 12:52:00 PM | Softball
Tigers to play 36 games against teams coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Softball has released its schedule for the upcoming 2020 season, head coach Larissa Anderson announced, Thursday.
Entering Anderson's second season at the helm of the program, Tiger fans will have 21 opportunities to see the team play at home – including eight-straight games at Mizzou Softball Stadium, Feb. 29 – March 8.
The schedule provides stiff competition for Mizzou, as 36 of the team's 54 games will be against programs coming off an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2019 – including five teams that reached the Women's College World Series this past spring.
Mizzou will open the season with back-to-back trips to Clearwater, Fla., with both weekends offering the program exposure on the national stage. The Tigers will open the season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, Feb. 7-9, drawing: Notre Dame, South Alabama, Baylor, Minnesota and Louisville.
The following week, the Tigers will return to the Sunshine State for the St. Pete/ESPN Clearwater Invite. Mizzou will draw: Kansas and Liberty, as well as tournament teams Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, James Madison and Minnesota. The latter three reached all advanced to at least the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in 2019.
After a weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif., Feb. 20-23, Mizzou will play its first games of the season at home – hosting the Mizzou Tournament, Feb. 29 – March 1. The Tigers will host both Wichita State and Nebraska.
A midweek game against Kansas City, March 4, continues the team's eight-game homestand, followed by the opening weekend of SEC play, as the Tigers host Ole Miss, March 6-8.
Mizzou will play a neutral site midweek game against rival Illinois in Bridgeton, Mo., followed by back-to-back SEC series – at Auburn (March 14-16) and at home against Arkansas (March 20-22).
In-state foe Missouri State will play a Tuesday afternoon match in Columbia, Mo., before the Tigers hit the road for a doubleheader at Iowa, March 25. Mizzou will close out the month of March at Texas A&M, March 27-29, followed by a midweek game at home against SIUE leading into the team's SEC bye week.
Coming off of the bye week, Mizzou will play a series at Florida for the team's third trip to the state on the year, April 9-11. Following the series against the Gators, Mizzou will play four-straight games at home, starting with a midweek game against Saint Louis, April 14, followed by a conference series against Kentucky, April 17-19.
Mizzou will hit the road for the final time of the regular season, first with a doubleheader at SEMO, April 22, followed by a series at LSU, April 24-26.
The Tigers will close SEC play at home, hosting Alabama, May 1-3, with senior weekend.
The SEC will announce game times and broadcast information for all conference games at a later date.
Mizzou is coming off of a 35-25 record in Anderson's first campaign in Mid-Missouri. Despite being predicted to finish last in the SEC in the preseason poll, Mizzou finished tied for fourth in the conference. The Tigers reached the final of the UCLA Regional, forcing a decisive game seven against eventual national champion UCLA, being the only team to hand UCLA a loss in the postseason.
For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@MizzouSoftball).
