University of Oklahoma Athletics

Softball Schedule Released for 2016 Season

Softball Schedule Released for 2016 Season

NORMAN – Fifteen opponents that reached the 2015 NCAA Softball Tournament, including half of the field from the Women’s College World Series, highlight the University of Oklahoma softball team’s 2016 schedule.

It’ll be the 22nd season for the Sooners under the direction of head coach Patty Gasso. OU has reached the postseason in each of her previous 21 seasons, including six straight trips to the Super Regionals and nine appearances overall in the Women’s College World Series.

"We always enjoy playing a tough schedule and this season is no exception," Gasso said. "The strength of our schedule is pretty consistent throughout the season and we wouldn't want it any other way. We get better by taking the tough road and we always welcome strong competition. We are all looking forward to it."

The season starts for the Sooners Feb. 12-14 at the Sportco Kick Off Classic hosted by UNLV in Las Vegas. OU opens the season against two teams that reached the postseason a year ago in Minnesota and Washington. Also in the field are Lamar, Syracuse and Long Beach State.

From there, Oklahoma takes part in the New Mexico State Invitational Tournament, Feb. 19-20. In addition to two games against the host-Aggies, the defending WAC champions, the Sooners are scheduled to face Creighton and Western Michigan.

OU then makes its annual trip to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., Feb. 25-27, where it will face two teams from last year’s WCWS in Michigan and UCLA. In addition, Fresno State and Utah also made the NCAA tournament in 2015. Oregon State is also on the schedule for the Sooners.

The 2016 home opener is scheduled for March 5 as Oklahoma takes on Dartmouth, the winners of the Ivy League last year, in a doubleheader. After an intrastate trip to Tulsa on March 9, OU returns home for games against Saint Louis, BYU (an NCAA tournament participant) and Maryland from March 11-13.

Oklahoma hits the road again, March 18-20, as it travels to Fullerton, Calif., for the Easton Tournament. The trip is highlighted by a rematch against Alabama, which ended the Sooners’ season a year ago in the Super Regionals, and Nebraska, which reached the Regionals. Games against DePaul, Cal State Fullerton and Grand Canyon are also on the docket.

The Sooners then return home to face UMKC at home on March 25 and at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City the next day. Other non-conference matchups include home games against Wichita State (April 6) and North Texas (April 13), as well as a road contest at Arkansas (April 20).

A late season tournament sends the Sooners to Knoxville, Tenn., for three games over April 23-24. They’ll start with Lipscomb and end with ULM, while in between Oklahoma will take on Tennessee. OU defeated the Lady Vols for the 2013 National Championship and ended their season in the 2014 Super Regionals. Tennessee reached the WCWS a year ago.

Oklahoma begins its quest for an unprecedented fifth straight Big 12 title as it opens Big 12 play with Bedlam against Oklahoma State in Oklahoma City on March 30.

The conference schedule also sees OU hosting Kansas (April 1-3), Texas (April 15-17) and Texas Tech (May 6-8) and traveling to Baylor (April 8-10) and Iowa State (April 29-May 1). Bedlam resumes May 13 in Stillwater before wrapping up the regular season on May 14 in Norman. Among those Big 12 teams, Kansas, Baylor and Texas all reached the postseason a year ago.

The 2016 NCAA Regionals are scheduled for May 20-22 at campus sites, while the Super Regionals are also scheduled to take place at campus sites from May 27-29. The 2016 Women’s College World Series will be held in Oklahoma City from June 2-8.