Kelli Sheesley, Assistant AD/Creative Services – Temple University Athletic Communications
PHILADELPHIA (11/1/13) – Head Temple softball coach Joe DiPietro has released a challenging 2014 schedule, featuring five NCAA participants from a year ago. The Owls will also play in three early season tournaments to gear up for competition in the new American Athletic Conference.
DiPietro, in his sixth year at the helm, has the Cherry & White poised to make a run at the first-ever American title. TU posted an overall record of 32-26 last season, setting a school record for wins. The Owls went 15-7 in their final year in the Atlantic 10, finishing third at the conference championship.
Temple opens the season with play at the TSU Tiger Classic in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 21-23. While there, TU will face former A-10 foe Dayton, Western Michigan, Indiana State and the host Tennessee State. The following weekend, the Owls travel to Clearwater, Fla., to take part in the USF Under Armour Invitational, squaring off against Florida Atlantic, Kennesaw State, Loyola Marymount, Central Arkansas and Mount St. Mary’s. The squad returns to Florida on March 4-8 to play in the Rebel Spring Games, with that schedule being released in January.
After the southern tournaments, often the first chance the team has to get outside, the Owls return home to play 11 of their next 14 contests at home. TU hosts three doubleheaders with Delaware State (3/12), Villanova (3/18) and La Salle (3/19) before hitting the road for its first official American contests at Houston on March 22-23. After the three-game set against the Cougars, one of the 2013 NCAA participants on the ledger, Temple hosts non-conference rival Wagner for a twinbill on March 26 before welcoming conference foe UCF for another three games on March 29-30.
The month of April will be a challenging one for the Cherry & White with the team on the road for 11 of 13 dates on the schedule. A five-date road trip starts off on April 1 with a doubleheader at Lafayette before traveling just across Philadelphia to play a single game at defending Ivy League champion Penn the following day. April 5-6 are spent at league rival Memphis for three games before the trip ends with a twinbill at Towson on April 9. The only home games of April occur April 12-13 when the Owls host conference opponent Rutgers for three games. Trips to league foes UConn (4/18-19) and Louisville (4/26-27) are sandwiched by a non-conference doubleheader at Stony Brook on April 23. Both the Cardinals and the Seawolves advanced to the NCAA tournament last season. April ends with a doubleheader at Drexel on the 30th.
TU plays its final non-conference game on May 1, hosting Monmouth for a single game. The Owls finish out regular-season play at home with USF, hosting the NCAA participant Bulls for a Senior Day doubleheader on May 3 and a single game on May 4.
The 2014 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship will be held May 8-10 in Orlando, Fla., at UCF.
For more information on Temple softball, visit www.owlsports.com, www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball, and www.twitter.com/Temple_Softball.
