Softball to Face 13 NCAA Teams in 2016

2016 Schedule (.pdf)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Featuring 25 home games and 13 opponents that played in last year’s NCAA Tournament, head coach Courtney Deifel and the University of Arkansas softball team has announced the team’s 2016 schedule. In their first season under Deifel, the Razorbacks’ campaign begins Feb. 11 at the Texas Classic in Austin, while the team’s 2016 home opener is set for Feb. 27 with day one of the Razorback Invitational.

At the season-opening Texas Classic, the Razorbacks are set to face a trio of NCAA teams in North Carolina, North Dakota State and host Texas. Arkansas will continue its road swing with a trip to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (Feb. 19-21) in Palm Springs, Calif., where it is schedule to play another NCAA team in Binghamton among its five opponents.

After two weekends on the road, the Razorbacks play their next 11 games on their home field at Bogle Park beginning with the two-day Razorback Invitational against UMKC and Drake. Arkansas’ second home tournament is the Wooo Pig Classic which will be played March 4-6 in Fayetteville. The home stand also features midweek games against regional opponents Oklahoma State and Missouri State.

The SEC season begins March 11-13 with a road series at Tennessee, the team’s first of four opponents in 2016 that were part of last year’s Women’s College World Series. After a midweek against Tulsa, the Razorbacks head back west to play in a tournament March 18-20 hosted by Cal State Fullerton The rest of Arkansas’ road schedule features a doubleheader at Southeast Missouri (April 6) and games at Tulsa (April 12) and Oklahoma State (April 27).

The Razorbacks’ SEC home opener is set for March 25-27 against Kentucky, marking the first of four conference series at Bogle Park. Arkansas is also set to host SEC foes South Carolina (April 8-10), Auburn (April 15-17) and LSU (April 29-May 1). Both Auburn and LSU advanced to last year’s Women’s College World Series. As part of its midweek series of games, Arkansas will welcome Oklahoma to Fayetteville on April 20.

In addition to their SEC road series at Tennessee, the Razorbacks face conference games at Texas A&M in College Station (April 1-3), Ole Miss in Oxford (April 22-24) and defending national champion Florida in Gainesville (May 6-8). Postseason play begins May 11-14 with the SEC Tournament in Starkville, Miss., with the college softball season culminating June 2-8 at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Stay tuned for more information from the SEC Network and ESPN regarding television appearances. All home games will be played at Bogle Park which begins its eighth season as the home field for the University of Arkansas softball program. For more information about season tickets, contact the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-4647.

#Razorbacks | 2016 @RazorbackSB Schedule
• First season under head coach Courtney Deifel
• 25 home games at Bogle Park
o Home opener: Feb. 27 vs. UMKC (12:30 p.m.) and Drake (3 p.m.)
o SEC home opener: March 25 vs. Kentucky (6 p.m.)
• 13 (of 30) opponents played in last year’s NCAA Tournament
o Six non-conference opponents
o Seven of eight SEC series
• 29 (of 56) games against opponents that played in last year’s NCAA Tournament
• Four (4) opponents that advanced to last year’s Women’s College World Series
o at Tennessee (March 11-13 in Knoxville)
o vs. Auburn (April 15-17 in Fayetteville)
o vs. LSU (April 29-May 1 in Fayetteville)
o at Florida (May 6-8 in Gainesville)
• Five first-time opponents (Binghamton, Cal State Fullerton, Central Michigan, Grand Canyon & New Mexico)

For more information about Arkansas softball, follow @RazorbackSB on Twitter.