University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Softball Announces Challenging 2018 Schedule
10/31/2017 11:28:00 AM | Softball
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware softball team will face nine teams that competed in last year's NCAA Tournament including two that advanced to the Super Regionals as the Blue Hens announced their challenging 2018 schedule on Tuesday.
Delaware, led by head coach John Seneca, will be looking to build on last season's campaign that saw the Blue Hens win 24 games and advance to the CAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. UD returns 14 letterwinners from the 2017 squad, including eight starting position players, and adds seven talented newcomers.
The Blue Hens kick off their season at the Auburn Tournament on Feb. 16-17, including a contest against the host Tigers, who advanced to the Super Regionals last spring and were ranked No. 13 in the final poll. Delaware will also face Georgia State twice and Maryland once at the season-opening invitational.
UD will head to the state of Florida the next two weekends, playing five games at the Madeira Beach Invitational on Feb. 23-25 and the Citrus Classic in Kissimmee on Mar. 2-4. After opening play at the Medeira Beach Invitational against Nicholls State, the Blue Hens will play four straight NCAA Tournament opponents in Kent State, Arkansas, McNeese and Albany.
The Citrus Classic includes games against Troy, UMass, Robert Morris and Ball State, followed by an exhibition against the Czech National Team.
Delaware will play five games at the Liberty Invitational on Mar. 9-11, including two against a Baylor squad that advanced to the Super Regionals and were ranked seventh in the final poll. The Blue Hens will also take on Ohio and Liberty, both teams that competed in the NISC Tournament last spring.
UD then opens its home slate by hosting facing Villanova and Cornell twice each in the Blue Hen Invitational on Mar. 17-18.
UD travels to Lehigh for a non-league doubleheader on Mar. 21, before opening Colonial Athletic Association play at home vs. Drexel on Mar. 24-25.
After heading to Saint Joseph's for a twinbill on Mar. 28, Delaware heads south for a three-game league series at Towson on Mar. 31-Apr. 1. Following a home doubleheader vs. Monmouth on Apr. 4, the Blue Hens play a weekend set at defending CAA champion James Madison on Apr. 7-8.
UD then enjoys an eight-game homestand featuring a doubleheader vs. Delaware State on Apr. 11, followed by three-game series vs. Hofstra on Apr. 14-15 and Charleston on Apr. 21-22.
After playing a twinbill at Fordham on Apr. 25 and a weekend series at UNCW on Apr. 28-29, the Blue Hens return home to host Mount St. Mary's in a doubleheader on May 2. The regular season concludes with a home series vs. Elon on May 4-5.
The five-team CAA Tournament will again be hosted by James Madison at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Va. on May 9-11.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Tritt | ktritt@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8715 | Cell: 302-383-5005
