Fall Ball Slate Released, Features Kentucky Series at Alumni Field
9/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team and head coach Carol Hutchins announced the program's fall softball schedule on Monday (Sept. 8), highlighted by a three-game weekend series against Kentucky Oct. 4-5 at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field.
"Bringing Kentucky to Alumni Field for three games is like having a Super Regional in the fall," said Hutchins. "This will be a great opportunity for Michigan fans to not only get their softball fix, but we're also the only home event that Saturday, so Michigan fans will get their Maize and Blue fix as well. We wanted fans to get a great experience so we're making all of the games absolutely free. We anticipate a great weekend of softball with a great program in Kentucky coming to Ann Arbor, so let's fill Alumni Field."
Both Michigan and Kentucky finished 2014 ranked in the top 10, with U-M voted No. 10 and UK taking the No. 6 spot. All three games against the Wildcats will be free of charge.
Prior to the three-game series with Kentucky, the Wolverines will head north to the Traverse City Collegiate Tournament Sept. 27-28 to play four games. Michigan is slated to play Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Oakland University. All games will be held at Traverse City West High School.
The Maize and Blue will cap the fall season with a single game against Eastern Michigan. The Eagles enter their second season under Melissa Gentile, who was an All-American and team captain during her career at Michigan (1997-2000).
Michigan is coming off a record seventh straight Big Ten crown and its 16th regional title. The Wolverines return 14 letterwinners, including All-America first team shortstop and Big Ten Player of the Year Sierra Romero (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta),All-America second team pitcher Haylie Wagner (Orange, Calif./El Modena),All-Region second team outfielder Sierra Lawrence (Snellville, Ga./Greater Atlanta Christian) and All-Big Ten performers Megan Betsa (McDonough, Ga./Union Grove) and Lauren Sweet (Corona, Calif./Santiago).
The fall slate will also mark the first appearances in Maize and Blue for the squad's five freshmen: Tera Blanco (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina), Aidan Falk (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy), Taylor Swearingen (Anaheim, Calif./Canyon), Amanda Vargas (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Tesoro) and Nikki Wald (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington).
| Date | Time | Opponent | Location |
| Saturday, Sept. 27 | 10:30 a.m. | Western Michigan | Traverse City, Mich. |
| 12:30 p.m. | Central Michigan | Traverse City, Mich. | |
| Sunday, Sept. 28 | 10:30 a.m. | Oakland University | Traverse City, Mich. |
| 12:30 p.m. | TBD* | Traverse City, Mich. | |
| Saturday, Oct. 4 | 2 p.m. | Kentucky | Wilpon Complex |
| 4 p.m. | Kentucky | Wilpon Complex | |
| Sunday, Oct. 5 | 12 p.m. | Kentucky | Wilpon Complex |
| Wednesday, Oct. 8 | 3:30 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | Wilpon Complex |
*TBD based on record in previous three games
Contact: Michael Kasiborski
