Nov. 6, 2014

2015 SC Softball Schedule (PDF) | 2015 SC Softball Schedule (HTML)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – With 31 home dates and 41 contests scheduled against top-100 RPI teams from last year, South Carolina has a challenging 2015 softball schedule.

The Gamecocks, who have played in the NCAA Tournament the last two years, will have plenty of opportunities to see other top teams in the country, with 24 games scheduled against teams in last year’s 64-team field. Highlighting that is a three-game series at defending national champion Florida over Easter weekend, with Sat., April 4, slated for a doubleheader between the Gators and Gamecocks. Florida State and Kentucky, two more of the Gamecocks’ foes, made the 2014 Women’s College World Series.

“I am excited about the 2015 softball season,” remarked Gamecock head coach Beverly Smith. “I believe the 2015 schedule will put our young team to the test. There is no better place to play than at Beckham Field in front of our wonderful Gamecock faithful. Our fans will be treated to exciting softball competition all season long. I want to encourage fans to come out and support us and pack the house!”

South Carolina opens its 31-game home schedule against inaugural American Athletic Conference champion UCF on Wed., Feb. 11. Other notable non-conference games at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field include Charleston Southern and South Alabama, both of whom made the 2014 NCAA Tournament, participating in the Carolina Classic event over Feb. 27-March 1, a pair of visits from College of Charleston (Feb. 15 as part of the Gamecock Invitational field, April 1) and defending Atlantic Sun champs USC Upstate (April 7).

Among the four Southeastern Conference series set at home, the Gamecocks draw Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi State, who all played in the 2014 SEC Tournament at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field, as well as Arkansas. To go with the Easter trip to Florida, South Carolina has road SEC series set at Texas A&M, Kentucky and Mississippi.

In two February tournaments outside of Columbia, the Gamecocks play in the Pirate Classic hosted by East Carolina as well as taking part of the loaded Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at Big League Dreams Park in Cathedral City, Calif. There the Gamecocks square off against its host in the 2014 Tallahassee Regional Florida State, another NCAA Tournament participant in Northwestern and two Pac-12 squads in Stanford and California.

Seven starters and the top two pitchers from last year’s 36-22 team return, including single-season home-run record-holder Sarah Mooney and the NCAA Division I leader in saves Nickie Blue. Season tickets renewals are ongoing, with a deadline for deposits set for Dec. 12.