Wolverines Announce Eight-Game Fall Schedule
8/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 30, 2016
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan softball team will play an eight-game fall schedule, head coach Carol Hutchins announced Tuesday (Aug. 30), highlighted by a National Pro Fastpitch League Fall Tour doubleheader at the Wilpon Complex, home of Alumni Field, as well as a home-and-home series against in-state rival Michigan State.
The four-team field at the annual Traverse City College Tournament (Sept. 24-25) consists of Michigan, Central Michigan, Saginaw Valley State and Western Michigan, with all four teams facing one another in a round-robin format with championship and consolation games to follow. All games will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School.
Michigan will host the NPF for a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday, Sept. 29, as part of the league's fall tour. The Wolverines previously welcomed the NPF Back to School Tour in fall 2012 and, more recently, hosted three USSSA Pride games at Alumni Field in June.
The Wolverines will also play a home-and-home series against the Spartans, traveling to East Lansing, Michigan, on Thursday, Oct. 6, for a 4 p.m. road slate at Secchia Stadium, before wrapping fall competition a week later, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, with a 6 p.m. home game at Alumni Field.
The fall tournament slate provides U-M softball fans their first opportunity to view the 2017 Wolverine lineup, which will feature four freshmen. These newcomers will join a veteran U-M contingent that captured the program's ninth straight Big Ten Conference title last season and advanced to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
Michigan returns 17 letterwinners, including five starting field players and a starting pitcher, from its 2016 squad. Among those returning are three All-Americans -- senior RHP Megan Betsa, senior outfielder Kelly Christner and junior first baseman/RHP Tera Blanco.
2016 Michigan Softball Fall Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Location |
| Saturday, Sept. 24 | 10:30 a.m. | Central Michigan | Traverse City, Mich. |
| 12:30 p.m. | Saginaw Valley State | Traverse City, Mich. | |
| Sunday, Sept. 25 | 10:30 a.m. | Western Michigan | Traverse City, Mich. |
| 12:30 p.m. | Final/Consolation | Traverse City, Mich. | |
| Thursday, Sept. 29 | 4 p.m. | NPF Fall Tour (DH) | Wilpon Complex |
| Thursday, Oct. 6 | 4 p.m. | Michigan State | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 12 | 6 p.m. | Michigan State | Wilpon Complex |
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
