The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Softball Announces Schedule For 2008 Season
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 20, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB softball team released its 63-game schedule for the 2008 season, which includes four weekend non-conference tournaments, eight Conference USA series, and 21 home games.
"We're very excited about this year's schedule," head coach Marla Townsend said. "Our competition this year will be tough and we will be challenged early. Having to start our season on the road, playing seven games in four days, will be a big test coming out of the gate. Our non-conference tournament schedule is one of the toughest in recent years."
The Blazers open their season Feb. 7 on the road against Mississippi Valley State. UAB will play its season home opener Feb. 19 against Kennesaw State.
The Blazers will play in four non-conference weekend tournaments throughout the first month of the season. The four tournaments include the Century Bank Classic hosted by Centenary (La.) in Texarkana, Texas; the Seminole Classic hosted by Florida State, in Tallahassee, Fla.; the Mustang Classic hosted by Cal Poly, in San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and the Magic City Classic hosted by Samford in Birmingham.
It will be the second time in the program's history that the team will play in tournaments in Texas and California, and the third time that the Blazers will play in Florida.
The Blazers close out their tournament schedule with their eighth consecutive appearance in the Magic City Classic, a tournament that the Blazers have won seven times. Townsend said the tournament is a great way for her team to prepare for league play.
"It's our final weekend before we get into conference play so we really want to have everything together and be all systems go," Townsend said. "It's nice for us to get to stay home and play the weekend prior to our conference opener."
UAB will play eight three-game series against C-USA opponents this year, four at home and four on the road. The Blazers play their first home C-USA series on March 15 when they host UCF. They will also host Memphis, Tulsa, and Houston during the season.
The Blazers open their road conference season against UTEP, and will also make visits to Southern Miss, Marshall and East Carolina to finish the regular season.
UAB will play seven teams from last year's NCAA regional field this season, including Mississippi State, Cal, Florida State, Mississippi Valley State, Houston, Alabama, and Cal Poly.
The Blazers will play three single-game home and away series against Mississippi State, Mississippi Valley State, and Alabama. It will be the first time that UAB and Alabama have played outside of tournament play since 2000. The two teams faced one another twice in 2005 at the Bama Bash, including in the championship game.
The Blazers also play non-conference home doubleheaders against Western Kentucky and Troy. They will play non-conference road doubleheaders against Jacksonville State, South Alabama, and Chattanooga.
