University of Massachusets Athletics
Softball Announces 2003 Schedule
October 31, 2002 | Softball
Oct. 31, 2002
2003 Massachusetts Softball Schedule
AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts softball Head Coach Elaine Sortino announced the 2003 schedule this afternoon. The Minutewomen will play at least 11 teams who finished the 2002 season ranked in the final NFCA top 25 poll and at least four teams who participated in the 2002 Women's College World Series. Massachusetts was ranked 23rd in the final poll released May 29, 2002.
"This is a very challenging schedule this season," said Sortino. "I am looking forward to see how we stack up against some of the nation's best teams."
Massachusetts will open up the season at the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 7-9, where it will face Cal-State Fullerton, Stanford, Nebraska, Texas Tech and host school Arizona State. After a week off, the Minutewomen travel to Columbus, Ga., for the NFCA Lead-Off Classic. They will take on Oregon State, Pacific and Florida State before entering bracket play. Arizona State (No. 3), Nebraska (No. 6) and Cal-State Fullerton (No. 10) all finished the season in the top 10, while Stanford (No. 15), Pacific (No. 20) and Oregon State No. 24) were all in the top 25.
On March 6-9, the Minutewomen head south to compete in the Speedline Invitational in Plant City, Fla., hosted by the University of South Florida. UMass will play North Carolina, Washington, Hofstra, Ball State and Northwestern leading up to bracket play. The Huskies finished the 2002 season ranked 14th.
The next weekend, March 14-16, the Minutewomen will look to defend their title at the Blue & Gold Classic in Miami, Fla., hosted by Florida International University. This year's field is much stronger as the Minutewomen will face Texas A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida International and defending national champion California prior to the championship round. California (No. 1), Texas A&M (No. 21) and Florida Atlantic (No. 25) were all in the top 25.
On its way back north, Massachusetts will play two games each against Seton Hall and Villanova in the Atlantic 10/Big East Challenge in Philadelphia, March 22-23. The Minutewomen open up A-10 Conference play with a pair of doubleheaders at La Salle, March 28, and at Fordham, March 30. The Minutewomen's home opener at the UMass Softball Complex is slated for Wednesday, April 2, when they host Maine in a doubleheader at 2:30 p.m.
UMass will play 19 games at home in just 32 days leading up to the 2003 Atlantic 10 Championship, May 8-10 in Amherst.
In 2002, the Minutewomwn won a school-record 53 games and advanced to the NCAA Regional in Lafayette, La. The 2003 edition looks to capture its ninth consecutive conference title and 16th overall. UMass has won 46 A-10 regular season games in a row since a 3-1 loss to Dayton on April 30, 2000.