By: Greg Marsh, Stanford Athletics – Assistant Director of Communications
STANFORD, Calif. – The 2014 Stanford softball schedule was released Wednesday, featuring 24 home games and 33 contests against opponents that competed in 2013 NCAA Regional competition.
The Cardinal finished the 2013 season 39-21 and ranked No. 21/22 in the nation. Stanford finished fourth in the Pac-12 with a 13-11 mark, and was 26-10 against non-conference opponents. Stanford was 20-6 at Boyd and Jill Smith Family Stadium.
Stanford will play a challenging non-conference schedule, highlighted by a Feb. 23 matchup against 2013 NCAA runner-up Tennessee at the Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, Calif., before embarking on another tough Pac-12 schedule that includes seven NCAA tournament teams from last season.
The Cardinal will prepare for the 2014 season with six fall matchups against Northern California opponents. Stanford will play doubleheaders against San Francisco State (Nov. 3), Sonoma State (Nov. 9) and Santa Clara (Nov. 10).
Stanford opens its 56-game regular season schedule at the Kajikawa Classic (Feb. 6-9) in Tempe, Ariz., where it will see 2013 NCAA tournament participants North Carolina State (Feb. 6) and San Diego State (Feb. 7) in its first two matchups on the weekend. The squad will also take on New Mexico, Indiana, Western Michigan and Seattle.
The Cardinal will return home for the Stanford Nike Invitational (Feb. 14-16), playing host to Cal Poly, Bradley and Pacific. Stanford went 3-1 against the three opponents in 2013.
Following the homestand, the Cardinal will play 11 consecutive games on the road beginning with a trip to UC Davis on Feb. 18. Stanford will then head south to Cathedral City to compete in the Mary Nutter Classic (Feb. 21-23). Along with NCAA runner-up Tennessee, the Cardinal will face Baylor, LSU, Maryland and Syracuse.
Stanford will make its longest trip of the season the following weekend, heading to the Under Armour Invitational (Feb. 28-March 2) in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinal will play five games in three days beginning with Central Arkansas and South Florida on Friday, followed by Georgia State and Central Connecticut State on Saturday, and wrapping up the weekend against Kennesaw State on Sunday.
Preseason play concludes March 6-9 at the Stanford Louisville Slugger Classic. The Cardinal will host a pair of games against 2013 NCAA tournament teams Brigham Young and Portland State. Stanford will also take on North Dakota State and UC Davis.
The team opens Pac-12 conference play March 14-15 at home against Bay Area rival California. After opening the series on Friday, the teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Stanford swept the Golden Bears in 2013 for the first time in program history.
The Cardinal hits the road for a series at Arizona State (March 22-24), non-conference matchups at Pacific (March 28) and San Jose State (April 1), and a three-game set at Arizona (April 4-6).
Stanford returns home April 10-12 for a series against 2013 NCAA semifinalist Washington before heading to Salt Lake City for three games against Utah (April 17-19).
After a midweek home game against Santa Clara (April 22), the Cardinal will host Oregon for a three-game set on April 25-27. Stanford concludes non-conference play at Saint Mary’s (April 30) and wraps up its road schedule May 2-4 at UCLA.
The regular season comes to a close May 8-10 when Oregon State visits The Farm for a three-game series.
Television schedules will be released at a later date. Dates and times are subject to change.
