Michigan State University Athletics
Softball Releases 2013 Schedule
11/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 8, 2012
2013 Schedule
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State University softball team and head coach Jacquie Joseph announced its 2013 schedule today. The Spartans feature a non-conference schedule that includes five tournaments, highlighted by matchups against South Carolina (Feb. 8) and Arizona State (Feb. 15). MSU will also play 15 home games at Secchia Stadium.
"The schedule this year provides us exactly what we need," said Joseph. "We have a good mix of highly regarded teams and teams which will help us prepare for the Big Ten season. This season also marks the return of the Big Ten Tournament. With the Big Ten Network committing to the semifinals and final games, this should be a great showpiece for our conference."
Michigan State will begin its season at the Stetson Tournament in DeLand, Fla., (Feb. 8-10) with opponents including Delaware, South Carolina, and Stetson. The team will then head to Arizona State University to face the Sun Devils, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, and Northern Iowa from Feb. 15-17.
The Spartans will travel to Florida to participate in the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament (Feb. 22-24) and will spend spring break at the Florida Atlantic Tournament (March 2-9). For the final tournament, the Spartans will play Wright State, Central Michigan, Illinois-Chicago and Toledo in Bloomington, Ind. (March 16-17).
Opening Day at Secchia Stadium is set for Wednesday, March 20 vs. Western Michigan at 4 p.m. That contest opens a season-long seven-game homestand, as the Spartans will begin Big Ten play against Penn State (March 22-24) and Indiana (March 29-31). MSU will also play Illinois (April 26-28) at home. Games with Michigan will be split with one game in Ann Arbor (April 12) and two games in Spartan territory (April 13-14).
MSU will face Purdue (April 5-7), Minnesota (April 19-21), Ohio State (April 24), and Wisconsin (May 3-5) on the road.
In addition to facing Western Michigan at home, the Spartans will also take on Central Michigan (April 9), Notre Dame (April 16) and Eastern Michigan (May 1) at Secchia Stadium.
The top-eight teams in the Big Ten will be awarded a spot on the bracket to compete in the Big Ten Tournament May 9-12 in Lincoln, Neb.
