PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 11, 2013) – The Rutgers softball team unveiled its 2014 schedule Monday, revealing a 55-game slate that features 16 home games at the RU Softball Complex and six opponents that qualified for the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
The Scarlet Knights begin their season on Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 at the University of Texas at San Antonio Tournament before competing in two more tournaments leading up to their March 12 home-opener vs. Hampton.
“We are looking forward to a successful season and cannot wait to meet the challenges of our 2014 schedule,” said assistant coach Lindsey Curran. “We have a jam-packed scheduled of 55 games, including an international game against The Dutch National Team. We are playing a Top 25 ranked team in University of Louisiana- Layette when we travel to Florida for the Leadoff Classic. Six Opponents on this year’s schedule qualified for NCAA regional’s last year and five opponents won their respective conference; USF, Portland State, Hofstra, Penn State, and Central Conn. We feel this schedule will prepare us for our conference play and The American Athletic Conference Championship.”
RU will take on Colorado State in its first game of the 2014 season at Roadrunner Field on Feb. 14 before battling Wichita State, Oklahoma State and host UTSA in its next three contests from Feb. 15-16 The Scarlet Knights close with Colorado State on Feb. 16, completing their second trip to the UTSA Tournament in two years.
The Scarlet Knights will look to avenge losses to UTSA and Oklahoma State last season, as the squad fell 11-1 to UTSA and 2-1 to Oklahoma State.
Nelson leads his squad into its second tournament of the season the in following weekend on Feb. 21, when the Scarlet Knights compete in the Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. RU will face five different opponents from Feb. 21-23, including 2013 NCAA qualifier James Madison, Charleston, former BIG EAST foe DePaul, UMass and Louisiana-Lafayette.
RU last played DePaul on May 12, 2011 and Louisiana-Lafayette on Feb. 11, 2012.
From the “Sunshine State” the Scarlet Knights will trek across the country to partake in the Matador Diamond Tournament in Northridge, Calif., from Feb. 28-Match 2. Highlighting the list of games for RU are two contests against 2013 NCAA Tournament qualifying Portland State, as the squad will also take on Buffalo twice and play California State University, Northridge.
The Scarlet Knights return home on Wednesday, March 12 for a doubleheader against 2013 NCAA qualifying squad Hampton at the RU Softball Complex but depart soon after to the Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. from March 14-16.
The team will take on future Big Ten opponent Penn State and St. Joseph’s on the first day of competition, Buffalo and Central Connecticut on Day Two and close out the tourney with Quinnipiac on Sunday, March 16.
RU will remain in Clearwater, Fla., until March 18, as it will face UMass in a nonconference matchup on March 16 and the Dutch National Team in an international competition on March 18.
American Athletic Conference play kicks off on Saturday, March 22, when the Scarlet Knights face another NCAA qualifier in Louisville in Louisville, Ky. From there RU welcomes NCAA qualifying Hofstra to the RU Softball Complex for a nonconference doubleheader (March 26) and rolls into its first home conference series against USF from March 29-30. The Scarlet Knights took one of three games against USF last season to snap a 17-game losing streak against the Bulls.
Nelson and Co. will make the short trip to West Orange, N.J. to face former BIG EAST rival Seton Hall in midweek nonconference action on April 2. RU is 43-21 all-time against the Pirates, taking the last five meetings against its Jersey foe.
The Scarlet Knights face another former BIG EAST rival the next day when they travel to face Villanova in a doubleheader at Pike Field in Villanova, Pa.
From April 5-6 Rutgers plays UCF at the UCF Softball Complex in another three-game conference set. The series marks the first-ever games between the two schools.
Seton Hall will visit RU on Wednesday, April 9 to face the Scarlet Knights for the second time of the season .Rutgers will battle another in-state foe the next day in Princeton. RU and Princeton will play for the 53rd time, as the Tigers lead the all-time series 30-22. The Scarlet Knights have won the last three meetings dating back to 2009.
American Athletic Conference opponent Temple welcomes RU to Ambler Field for a three-game set beginning on Saturday, April 12. The two schools will meet for the first time since March 12, 2005, when the Owls took a 9-1 win.
Intrastate rival Monmouth wraps up the slate of N.J. opponents for the Scarlet Knights in 2013, as the Hawks host RU on April 15 at the MU Softball Park.
RU will settle in Piscataway for its next eight contests from April 18-27, beginning with a three-game conference series with Memphis. Former BIG EAST rival St. John’s visits the RU Softball Complex for the first time since 2012 on Wednesday, April 23. From there, RU looks to continue its success against conference opponent UConn from April 26-27 after taking two of three games last season.
A one-game set against LIU on Wednesday, April 30 marks the final home game of 2014 for the Scarlet Knights, who will play their final four games of the season on the road. The team treks to play Iona on Saturday, May 1 before traveling to NCAA-qualifying and AAC opponent Houston to close its regular season from May 3-4.
The American Athletic Conference Championships will be hosted b Houston University in Houston, Texas from May 8-10.
