MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Becky Clark has announced the 2014 South Alabama softball schedule, which includes six Top-25 opponents, among them UAB and Mississippi State, along with a demanding slate of road trips.
Clark: “Our Toughest to Date”
“Our spring schedule is our toughest to date,” said Clark, who enters her eighth season as head coach. “We will be playing 10 teams who participated in the NCAA Regional tournament last season and three of those who moved on to Super Regionals. We know that we have a tough schedule, but our kids love the challenge and have worked hard all summer and fall to prepare themselves.”
Home Opener at Renovated Jaguar Field
The Jaguars open Feb. 6 against UAB at a renovated Jaguar Field, the start of a five-game home stand that includes the annual Mardi Gras Tournament. South Alabama plays Syracuse on Feb. 7 and 8, McNeese State on Feb. 8 and Austin Peay on Feb. 9.
“I am looking forward to showcasing our field renovation and new construction,” Clark said. “The addition of our covered hitting facility will be a huge upgrade for our student-athletes, and the renovations around the field are going to go a long way in improving our fan’s experience on game day.”
Road Tournaments
- Bulldog Invitational, Athens, Ga., Feb. 14-16: Georgia twice, plus Ohio, Mercer and Furman.
- At UAB, Birmingham: a rematch with the Blazers.
- Orlando, Fla., Feb. 21-23: South Alabama plays in the 2014 Diamond 9 Classic at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. Opponents on the Orlando trip are Georgia Southern, East Carolina, Lehigh, Mercer and Georgia.
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic, Gulfport, Miss.: Ohio, Nicholls State, UT San Antonio, Baylor and Chattanooga.
- Boca Raton, Fla., March 7-9: a return to former Sun Belt foe Florida Atlantic, with games against Marshall, Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Illinois.
- Cowgirl Classic, Stillwater, Okla.: a two-day trip to Oklahoma State, with New Mexico followed by two games against the host Cowgirls.
Clark said the Gulf Coast Classic, which is in its first year, “should prove to be a strong tournament” and gives fans “a great opportunity” to see “highly-competitive softball without having to travel a great distance.”
The complete schedule is posted on the South Alabama athletics website.
