Three WCWS Teams Highlight 2010 Michigan Schedule
10/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 13, 2009
• 2010 Michigan Softball Schedule
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team announced its schedule for the 2010 season on Tuesday (Oct. 13). The slate consists of six early-season tournament appearances and 14 regular-season home dates, including eight against Big Ten Conference competition.
Among Michigan's slated opponents for early-season tournament competition are 15 teams from last season's NCAA Tournament and three from the 2009 Women's College World Series. The Maize and Blue will face five of those NCAA teams, including Tennessee, Georgia and UCLA, at the season-opening NTC Division I Elite Invitational in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 12-14. U-M will complete an SEC tour with road games at LSU on Feb. 20, Auburn on March 2, Mississippi State on March 3 and Alabama on March 5, before wrapping up tournament rotation another four teams from the 2009 NCAA field at the annual Judi Garman Classic, running March 18-21, including perennial power Arizona.
"We'll face another early test this year," said head coach Carol Hutchins. "You have to play the best to put yourself in a good position for the postseason, but you also need to win a lot of those games. So, I'm hoping it will set the bar high for us. Last year, I thought playing a tough schedule really toughened us up. I feel this schedule is equally as tough. We're heading to some new places this year. You like mix things up a bit, especially when you're playing quality teams and in quality venues."
The two-time defending Big Ten champion Wolverines kick off the home portion of their 2010 schedule against Bowling Green on March 24 and will host Big Ten Conference meetings against Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Penn State and intrastate rival Michigan State. Michigan posted a flawless 19-0 record last season at the Wilpon Softball Complex, home of Alumni Field, capped by weekend sweeps against NCAA Regional and NCAA Super Regional competition.
"I think Alumni Field has always been one of the great college environments," said Hutchins, "and it's just one of the greatest venues out there. It is not just because it is a beautiful stadium, but that stadium is packed with people who love Michigan. We have some of the best fans in college softball. We continue to rank among the nation's top 10 in attendance without nearly the number of home contests. I think that speaks for itself."
Season ticket information for the 2010 season will be finalized in December. For more information, fans are asked to email the U-M Ticket Office (mtickets@umich.edu) with their name, mailing address and phone number. Ticket information will be sent out as it becomes available.
Softball Media Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
