Matchups with NCAA Super Regional qualifier Tennessee and Women’s College World Series semifinalist Baylor highlight the 2015 BYU softball schedule.
“We are excited to play a well-rounded schedule, participating in tournaments in some exciting cities and venues,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “I believe it will prepare us well for West Coast Conference play.”
In addition to Tennessee and Baylor, the season slate has games against nine teams that qualified for NCAA Regionals including Utah Valley, Southern Utah, Long Beach State, San Diego State, Texas A&M and a rematch against Northwestern — the team that eliminated the Cougars from the 2014 NCAA Regional in Seattle.
BYU faces 13 teams from the SEC, Pac-12, ACC, Big 10 and Big 12, including Oklahoma State for the Cougars’ first home series.
“Bringing the Big 12’s Oklahoma State to Provo for a three-game series will allow our fans to see a quality team that played in the Women’s College World Series in 2011,” Eakin said.
The season commences with six tournaments: the Kajikawa Classic; the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic; the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic; the Triple Crown College Tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; the University of Tennessee Tournament; and the San Diego Classic II.
Conference play begins with a series at Saint Mary’s on April 3, when BYU looks to defend its title after clinching the inaugural WCC softball crown in 2014. The Cougars have won four-consecutive conference championships in four different conferences, winning the Mountain West Conference in 2011, the Western Athletic Conference in 2012 and the Pacific Coast Conference in 2013 before the WCC in 2014.
Opening its season on the road, BYU faces Virginia on Feb. 5, in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona.
For more information about the 2015 Cougar softball schedule visit the BYU Athletics website.
McKay Perry is the sports information director for BYU softball and an assistant sports information director for BYU football. Contact him at softball_sid@byu.edu