2014 Schedule
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI softball program and head coach
Amanda Rivera released the team's 2014 schedule today, which is highlighted by 11 games against six NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago and 15 home games at the renovated IUPUI Softball Field.
The Jaguars posted an 18-31 record in 2013 - Rivera's first year as the head coach - and she has built a schedule for the 2014 campaign that will test her squad throughout the season.
"We have a majority of our team returning from last year and I thought we really improved as the season went along," Rivera said. "We have some really talented newcomers as well and I think our kids will be challenged during the non-conference part of our schedule, which should prepare us for a tough Summit League schedule."
The season opens Feb. 7-9, in Rosemont, Ill., when the Jags will square off against Eastern Illinois twice, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois and Loyola-Chicago in a tournament co-hosted by UIC and Loyola. Following a weekend in Illinois, IUPUI travels south to Clarksville, Tenn., Feb. 22-23, for a three-game set against Austin Peay.
The Jaguars toughest test of the non-conference portion of the schedule occurs in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 22-23, when they play three games against NCAA Tournament teams from last year. The Jags open the Cardinal Classic on Saturday, Feb. 22, against Central Michigan – last year's Mid-American Conference Tournament champion – before closing the day against tournament host Louisville, which also advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament. IUPUI will have a quick turnaround as it takes on the Cardinals again on Sunday, Feb. 23, before closing out the event against Eastern Kentucky.
The end of February and the beginning of March will be spent in Bowling Green, Ky., when the Jaguars square off against Wisconsin-Green Bay, Indiana State, Wright State, Northern Iowa, and last year's Sun Belt Tournament champion, Western Kentucky, at the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic.
The 26-game road trip to start the season continues March 8-9 at the Southeast Missouri Tournament, March 15-16 with a four-game series at Dayton and March 18 at Butler, before IUPUI plays its first home game on March 22.
March 22-23, the Jaguars not only play their home opener, but also their Summit League opener against Western Illinois. That weekend starts an eight-game homestand that features another league series against North Dakota State (March 28-29) and a mid-week doubleheader on Monday, March 31, against Green Bay.
The Jags first road league series will be in Brookings, S.D., against South Dakota State April 4-5, before briefly returning home on Wednesday, April 9, for a doubleheader against Indiana State.
Another lengthy road trip ensues after the doubleheader against the Sycamores as the Jaguars will play nine games in 11 days at South Dakota (April 18-19), UIC (April 22), Omaha (April 25-26) and Valparaiso (April 29).
The Tuesday doubleheader against the Crusaders starts a challenging final week of the regular season for IUPUI as it will also play a doubleheader against Wright State the following day, before completing the regular-season and conference schedule May 2-3 at home against IPFW. Both Valparaiso and IPFW are NCAA Tournament teams from last year.
This year's Summit League Tournament will be held in Fargo, N.D., May 7-10.
