University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Softball Unveils Its 2009 Schedule
December 05, 2008 | Softball
Dec. 5, 2008
AMHERST, Mass. - The 20-time Atlantic 10 champion UMass softball team has released its 2009 schedule, as announced by head coach Elaine Sortino on Friday. The Minutewomen, coming off a 42-13 campaign in 2008 that culminated in the program's 18th NCAA Tournament appearance, will play a challenging 50-game regular season schedule, facing many national powers along the way. Seven ranked teams from the final 2008 polls and 10 NCAA Tournament teams appear on UMass' schedule, including national champion Arizona State. The Minutewomen will play 18 home games at the UMass Softball Complex.
UMass opens the season by travelling to four tournaments. The Minutewomen will find out where they stand early on as 12 out of their first 15 games are against BCS conference schools.
The season begins on Feb. 6 when the Minutewomen travel to Boca Raton, Fla. for the FAU "Kick-Off" Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic from the Feb. 6-8. UMass' five-game slate consists of games with Maryland, FAU, Long Island, Pittsburgh, and Michigan. The Wolverines finished 2008 ranked ninth in the both major polls.
On Feb. 20-22, The Minutewomen head west to the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. There they will face North Carolina State, Tennessee, UCLA, Oklahoma, and Arizona State. The latter four were all NCAA Tournament teams in 2008. The Bruins and Sun Devils both advanced to the Women's College World Series, with ASU winning the national championship.
From there it will be on to the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. on Feb. 27-March 1. UMass will play Nebraska, Georgia, Mississippi State, Southern Illinois, and Alabama over the course of three days. Georgia, Mississippi State, and Alabama were all NCAA Tournament teams a season ago with the Crimson Tide advancing the World Series.
On March 13-15, UMass heads to its final early-season tournament when it travels to Clearwater, Fla. for the UCF Under Armour Showcase. There the Minutewomen take on Central Michigan, South Florida, Loyola Marymount, Jacksonville, and Florida Gulf Coast.
UMass heads north to open Atlantic 10 Conference play on March 22 with a doubleheader at Dayton. The Minutewomen open up at the UMass Softball Complex on March 27 by hosting St. Bonaventure for a two-game weekend series. That kicks-off a season-long eight-game homestand for the Minutewomen with doubleheaders against Dartmouth, Vermont, and Saint Louis.
After an April 8 road game at Boston College, UMass heads to Philadelphia for a crucial conference weekend with two games against Saint Joseph's and a doubleheader at Temple.
Sortino's squad then returns to Amherst for five home games in a row from April 14-21, taking on Providence, Boston University, George Washington (2), and Boston College. From there its on the road for five-straight - a single game at UConn and then doubleheaders at Charlotte and Rhode Island.
UMass closes the regular season with a five-game homestand from April 30-May 3. A non-conference game with UConn leads into back-to-back days against La Salle and a doubleheader against Fordham.
The Atlantic 10 Championship will be hosted by Fordham in the Bronx, N.Y. from May 6-9. The Minutewomen will be in pursuit of their fourth-straight and 21st overall conference crown.
NCAA Regionals, which UMass has hosted the last three years, will be held on campus sites May 15-17. Super Regionals, which UMass hosted in 2006, will be held on campus sites May 22-24. The 2009 Women's College World Series will take place at Oklahoma City's ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on May 28-June 3.
