Sept. 23, 2009
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Thirty home games and 26 contests against teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament last season highlight the 2010 Texas A&M softball schedule, released by head coach Jo Evans on Wednesday.
In the non-conference portion of the schedule, the Aggies host three home tournaments and have a 13-game home stand.
"We love playing at home and have had great success over the past several years competing in front of our home crowd," Evans said. "The 12th Man and the rest of our loyal fan base make our stadium the best collegiate softball atmosphere in the nation."
In Texas A&M's 56-game schedule, it faces 19 teams that made it to the NCAA Regionals last year, seven that advanced to Super Regionals and two teams that made a trip to the 2009 Women's College World Series (WCWS).
"We make it a point to play the toughest competition possible," continued Evans. "Our team has responded well and it prepares us to compete in one of the toughest conferences in the country."
The first pitch of the 2010 season is slated for Feb. 12 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Aggies will be tested from the get-go with contests against Wisconsin and three NCAA Tournament teams in California, Nevada, Auburn and Arizona State. The Sun Devils have made four consecutive trips to the WCWS and defeated Texas A&M in the championship series in 2008 for their first national championship.
The first home contest of 2010 is Friday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. against NCAA Regional participant Mississippi State. The home opener is part of the Aggies' first home tournament, Feb. 19-21.
A&M travels to the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., the following weekend before returning to the Aggie Softball Complex. A 13-game home stand kicks off against Houston on March 3 before the Aggies hosts back-to-back tournaments.
The non-conference portion of the schedule wraps up with five games in San Diego, Calif., and a single game against Georgia Tech, a super regional team, on March 24.
Big 12 play opens at home against Kansas March 27-28, while the first Big 12 road game is at Baylor March 31.
A series at Nebraska April 2-3 is followed by four straight home games against Texas, April 7, perennial power Oklahoma, April 10-11, and Sam Houston State, April 14.
Road trips to Iowa State, April 17-18, and Texas, April 21, are next on the schedule before Texas A&M plays its last regular season home games against WCWS participant Missouri (April 24-25) and Baylor (April 28).
Softball's regular season schedule wraps up at Texas Tech (May 1-2) and Oklahoma State (May 8-9).
"On paper, this should be the strongest, top to bottom, that the Big 12 softball teams have ever been," commented Evans. "Last season we had seven teams playing in the NCAA tournament and I believe we will add at least one more team this season. I also think there will come a time, within the next few years, that every team in the Big 12 will have a great shot at competing in the postseason."
The Big 12 Championship is scheduled for May 13-16 in Oklahoma City, Okla., with NCAA Regional s and Super Regionals slated for May 20-23 and May 27-30, respectively. The WCWS at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium is set for June 1-9.
The Aggies welcome eight newcomers and return 11 letterwinners from a 2009 team that appeared in its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament. A&M continues fall practices and conducts its first fall games Oct. 3-4 at the SKGSL College Classic in Spring, Texas.