Oct. 5, 2010
Click here for the complete 2011 schedule.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M softball team and head coach Jo Evans look to develop their young roster against several of the top teams in the nation with the release of a challenging 2011 schedule.
The Aggies kick off the '11 season at the Kajikawa Classic Feb. 11-13 in Tempe, Ariz., where they face eight-time NCAA national champion and 2010 national runner-up Arizona and super regional teams Oregon and BYU.
"We have a great schedule this year," said Evans. "We will have the opportunity to play several top 20 teams as well as at least four teams who competed in the Women's College World Series (WCWS) last year. This season will be a great test for our team and will be an important part of us developing our young players. I know they are very excited to compete in front of the 12th Man and our loyal fan base."
The Aggies, who return 11 letterwinners and seven starters from a 2010 squad, face WCWS teams Washington, Georgia, Missouri and Arizona.
Texas A&M plays 22 games at the Aggie Softball Complex, where they were 22-8 a year ago. The squad plays its home opener against UT-Arlington on Feb. 18 as it kicks off the first of two home non-conference tournaments.
A trip to Cathedral City, Calif., follows Feb. 24-26, where the Aggies take on both 2009 national champion Washington and back-to-back WCWS participant Georgia.
The team heads to the Bulldog Classic (March 4-6) in Starkville, Miss., before hosting San Diego State, Louisiana Tech and Mississippi Valley State in the Texas A&M Invitational March 11-13.
The non-conference portion of the schedule wraps up with seven games in Tampa, Fla., over spring break.
Big 12 Conference play starts on March 26 at Baylor. In a split series, the Aggies then host the Bears on March 27 and welcome six league opponents to the Aggie Softball Complex, including Iowa State (April 2-3), Nebraska (April 16-17), Texas (May 4), Oklahoma State (May 7-8) and Texas Tech (May 13-14).
Conference road trips send Texas A&M to Baylor, Texas (April 6), Missouri (April 9-10), Oklahoma (April 22-23) and Kansas (April 30-May 1).
NCAA Regionals play out May 19-22 on campus sites, followed by Super Regionals May 26-29. The Aggies look to make their eighth NCAA WCWS appearance May 31-June 8 in Oklahoma City.
Texas A&M appeared in its ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament last year and welcome eight newcomers to the mix. The Aggies continue fall practices and hosts Blinn (Oct. 7) and McLennan (Oct. 12) at 6 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex to close out its fall competition.