Softball Announces 2010 Schedule
October 09, 2009 | Softball
Oct. 9, 2009
University of Louisville softball head coach Sandy Pearsall has announced the 2010 schedule. The Cards will face at least six opponents that finished last season ranked in the top 25 and eleven NCAA tournament teams including two Women's College World Series participants.
"This year's schedule is one of the toughest we've had here with six top 25 teams and several that competed in the NCAA tournament," said Pearsall. "We are excited to have such a challenging schedule to prepare us for Big East Conference play as well as the NCAA postseason."
Some of the teams highlighting the Cards' schedule include: No. 15/15 Baylor, No. 11/12 Ohio State, No. 16/17 Oklahoma, and No. 23/23 DePaul. Additionally Louisville will face WCWS participants No. 5/6 Michigan and No. 7/7 Arizona. The Cards are coming off of a record-setting season in 2009, finishing at 48-11, setting a new mark for wins and tying the record for fewest losses after reaching their sixth straight NCAA regional appearance. Additionally, Louisville was a mainstay in the top 25 rankings, reaching a program-high of 14th in both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and USA Softball polls. U of L closed the season at No. 24 in the NFCA poll.
Eleven letterwinners and seven starters are back from last year's team including All-Americans Melissa Roth and Kristen Wadwell. The Cards also welcome eight newcomers to the 2010 team.
Louisville will hit the ground running when it opens the season at the Houston Marriott Tournament against a pair of Big 12 Conference teams Kansas and 15th ranked Baylor. Also in the tournament are former Conference USA foe Houston and No. 11/12 Ohio State.
The following weekend, the Cards will travel to the Charleston Southern Tournament to face St. John's in a non-conference game, Charleston Southern and Youngstown State. A trip to the University of Charleston will round out the weekend.
U of L will open play at Ulmer Stadium Feb. 26-28 with the Cardinal Classic where they will face another former C-USA opponent, Saint Louis and Northern Illinois. Also returning to Ulmer Stadium that weekend will be Purdue, the team that knocked the Cards out of the 2009 NCAA regional.
Louisville will go back on the road to face No. 16/17 Oklahoma in a tournament that will have the Cards playing in Norman as well as the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The opponents will be announced at a later date, but will include No. 16/17 Oklahoma.
The Cards will travel to Lexington for a midweek game against in-state rival Kentucky before returning to Ulmer Stadium for the Red & Black Tournament which features No. 5/6 Michigan and Hofstra.
In their final non-conference tournament, the Cards will visit the West Coast when they travel to Cal State Fullerton for the Judi Garman Classic March 18-21. No. 7/7 Arizona, which handed the Cards their first loss in the 2009 NCAA regional will be their opening opponent. Purdue New Mexico, Texas and the host Titans will also compete in the tournament.
U of L will head to Bloomington to face Indiana prior to opening BIG EAST Conference play with a three-game series against No. 23 DePaul at Ulmer Stadium. A trip to Providence follows for another three-game series. The Cards will then play host to Kentucky in their final non-conference game of the season on April 7 at Ulmer Stadium.
Rutgers will host the Cards for a midweek doubleheader on April 14 before returning to the friendly confines of Ulmer Stadium for an eight-game home stand featuring Notre Dame, Syracuse and St. John's. Louisville will wrap up the season on the road against South Florida and Connecticut.
For the third straight year, the Cardinals will host the BIG EAST Conference tournament at Ulmer Stadium. This year's tournament will take play May 13-15 and will feature the league's top eight teams.
"We are happy to have the Big East Conference tournament at Ulmer Stadium again. The conference is already tough, but we are going to a new format in league play which could make things challenging by the end of the season," said Pearsall. "It's always nice to have the opportunity to play at home and in front of your own fans, as well as showcase the wonderful facilities we have. Our athletic department staff always does a great job when we are fortunate enough to be awarded the tournament."
