University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Softball Announces 2016 Schedule
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Complete Schedule | Complete Schedule (PDF)
PITTSBURGH – Ready to return to the field following a year of unprecedented success in 2015, the University of Pittsburgh softball team, under the direction of head coach Holly Aprile, has released its 2016 schedule.
Pitt will spend more than half of its season on the road, playing 31 of its total 42 games out of state. The remaining 11 matchups will be played at the Petersen Sports Complex and will feature four ACC showdowns.
“We are all incredibly excited to get back on the field and test ourselves against this competition,” said Aprile. “We had a very productive fall and will continue to put in great work through the winter. The ultimate goal is for that effort and hard work to translate into competitive success. This team feeds off of the opportunity to prove themselves.”
Pitt’s schedule is highlighted with six opponents from the 2015 NCAA tournament, including five ACC rivals. Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and Notre Dame all competed in the opening round of regionals alongside the Panthers, while Florida State and NC State reached the second round before concluding their seasons. In total, a conference-record of seven teams earned NCAA bids last season.
“Softball in the ACC is a grind and as a team we need to be focused and ready for that environment,” said Aprile. You can’t take a pitch off.”
The Panthers kick off their spring season with four consecutive weekend road tournaments, beginning with an outing at Macon, Ga. (Feb. 12-14). Scheduled games for the weekend include matchups against St. Bonaventure, Central Michigan and host Mercer.
The following weekend, Pitt will travel further south to Jacksonville, Fla. (Feb. 19-21). Opponents for the tournament include Georgetown, Penn State, Radford and host team Jacksonville University.
The Panthers will return to the Sunshine State a week later to continue action at Stetson University (Feb. 26-28). The Panthers will face the Stetson Hatters, Colgate Raiders, Providence Friars and Southern Illinois Salukis.
The Panthers will conclude tournament play during Spring Break at the University of San Diego (March 4-6). Slated matchups include Utah Valley, Portland State, Grand Canyon, Texas A&M and host San Diego. The squad will remain on the west coast for two additional games, as they are set to take on St. Joseph’s and play a second game with the Toreros.
The second week of March marks the official start of conference play, which Pitt will begin on the road at Tech Softball Park (March 12-13). The Panthers will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a very familiar setting as Tech hosted the 2015 ACC Tournament, where Pitt advanced to the ACC Championship Game.
On the road in the ACC, Pitt will face NC State (April 2-3), Notre Dame (April 9-10) and Boston College (May 7-8).
The Panthers will open its home slate at Vartabedian Field against North Carolina (March 19-20) and will also welcome ACC rivals Virginia (March 25-26), Georgia Tech (April 16-17) and Florida State (April 30-May 1) throughout the remainder of the season.
The Panthers will also host three non-conference opponents in St. Bonaventure (March 30), Bucknell (April 6) and St. Francis (Pa.) (April 13). A visit to Kent State will mark Pitt’s final non-conference game (April 20).
The Pitt softball team will look for continued success at this year’s ACC Tournament (May 12-14), which is set to be hosted by the Tar Heels in Raleigh, N.C.
The Panthers return 11 players from the 2015 season and add five newcomers to their lineup.
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