.png)
.png)
Golden Hurricane Announces 2006 Softball Schedule
11/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 16, 2005
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team will face some stiff competition in 2006. The schedule features 16 games against teams that qualified for a 2005 NCAA Regional, in addition to 31 games against teams that finished last season with a winning record.
The Golden Hurricane will kick-off the 2006 campaign with two such teams on opening day. Wichita State and Baylor will open play for TU at the Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas. Tulsa will also face Illinois in that tournament. Both the Shockers and Bears reached an NCAA Regional last season.
A West coast swing will follow for the Hurricane, as TU travels to Santa Barbara for the Commercial Capital Invitational hosted by UC Santa Barbara. The tournament includes Long Beach State, a 2005 Regional qualifier, and UC Santa Barbara, who posted a winning record last season. Regional power Cal State-Northridge, San Diego State and Rider will also compete in the tournament.
TU opens its home schedule with the Holiday Inn Select-Tulsa Festival, Feb. 24-26. The Creighton Blue Jays posted 44 wins last season after competing in the Lincoln Regional. Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas will make a return trip to the event, while Boston College and Eastern Illinois will make their first trips to Tulsa.
A second home tournament will open March, with the Best Western Airport-Tulsa Festival. Three Regional qualifiers highlight the tournament, including Notre Dame, Nebraska and Kansas. Former Missouri Valley foe Northern Iowa will also take part in the event, as will Stephen F. Austin.
Concluding the 11-game home stand will be a single game with in-state rival Oklahoma. The Hurricane have taken four of the last five games against the nationally-ranked Sooners, including a sweep last season.
A spring break trip to Florida will be next for the Hurricane. Indiana, Appalachian State and Troy will be in the Hurricane's pool at the Florida State Tournament. Troy posted 47 wins last season, including a pair of one-run victories over TU. In addition to the Seminoles, Connecticut, Kent State, Western Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, Florida A&M, St. John's, Bradley, Georgia State, North Florida and Utah will also be at the 16-team event.
Tulsa begins Conference USA play at Central Florida, Mar. 14-15. The Knights won 41 games last season, including winning the Atlantic Sun Tournament. League play will consist of a three game series, with each team hosting four series and traveling for four series. The top six finishers in the regular season standings will qualify for a double-elimination post-season tournament.
The Hurricane will return to the friendly confines of the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex for a weekend series against Houston on Mar. 18-19. A mid-week contest against Oklahoma State will be followed by another C-USA home series against Memphis. This will be the Tigers first season of fielding a softball team.
The annual Border War will conclude the month of March and a five-game home stand for the Hurricane. Tulsa will host Arkansas and OSU on the 29th.
April starts with a trip to UAB on the 1st and 2nd. East Carolina will travel to Tulsa on April 8-9, followed by a double-header with Wichita State on April 12.
A 2,300-mile and six-game road swing will take the Hurricane from Norman, Okla. on April 19, to Huntington, W.V. on April 22-23, to Springfield, Mo., on April 26. TU will again conclude the month at home with a series against UTEP, April 29-30.
May starts with a trip to Hattisburg, Miss., for a C-USA series against Southern Miss on May 6-7. Tulsa then returns home to host the C-USA Tournament on May 11-13.
