The 2015 softball schedule has been officially released and the new season will begin under first-year coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson when Alabama State will take part in the Troy Tournament in Troy, Ala. beginning on February 6 with the season opener against the University of Buffalo at 12 p.m.
The schedule is diversified with games slated against teams as far north as Buffalo and as far west as Southeastern Missouri. The Lady Hornets will also play a nonconference schedule that includes games against Valparaiso of the Horizon League, Mercer of the Southern Conference and Middle Tennessee State of Conference USA.
“In order to be the best, you have to play the best,” said Steiner-Wilcoxson. “We want to build some confidence and get them some experience. We’re stepping into some fierce competition from the beginning so we’re challenging the girls so we can build a respectful program.”
The Lady Hornets will be in tournament mode from the start and will also travel to the University of Louisiana-Monroe to play Southeastern Missouri, Louisiana-Monroe, and Troy for five games Feb. 13-15.
“We definitely want to get out and play teams from different regions of the country,” said Steiner-Wilcoxson. “We want to get as much game experience for the kids.”
The team has scheduled 42 games for the 2015 slate.
Alabama State will return back to the state to play four games against Valparaiso and Houston Baptist in Birmingham for the Samford Tournament Feb. 20-22. It will continue with a trip to Deland, Fla. for the Stetson Tournament from Feb. 27-March 1.
And, then the Lady Hornets will be back to Birmingham for the Tiny Laster Invitational to meet Savannah State, Morgan State, Coppin State and Tennessee State March 6-8.
Northern Kentucky State will visit Montgomery on March 14-15 for the home openers at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex. The Lady Hornets will then travel to Macon, Ga. to play at Mercer on March 17 before heading to Longview, Texas to play in the SWAC Roundup March 19-22.
On March 31, nonconference opponent Samford will come to Montgomery to play the Lady Hornets and the next day Alabama State will follow with a trip to South Alabama.
The conference schedule begins April 3-4 at Jackson State sandwiched in between playing nonconference opponent Jacksonville State on April 7. The SWAC schedule continues for games at Mississippi Valley State April 10-11, home dates with Alabama A&M April 17-18 and Alcorn State April 24-25 and then concludes the regular season with a nonconference game against Middle Tennessee State on April 27.
The SWAC Tournament begins on May 5 and runs through May 10.
