COLLEGE PARK, Md.- The University of Maryland softball program is just nine days away from the start of its 2016 season. To get ready for opening day, umterps.com will provide a four-part season preview focusing first on the schedule, and then breaking down the infield, outfield, and pitching. Today, we start with the 2016 schedule.
To be the best, you have to play the best. That is the strategy that head coach Julie Wright used when putting together a challenging 2016 slate. Maryland will take on 11 teams that made the 2015 NCAA Tournament including three (Oregon, Alabama, and Michigan) that made it to the Women's College World Series.
To break it down even further, the Terrapins will play 11 games against teams that are currently ranked in the NFCA Preseason Top 25, and another eight against teams that are receiving votes. Nine out of the top 50 in RPI from 2015 are on Maryland's schedule.
“We are very excited as a team and program on the strength of our schedule this season,” said Wright. “Matching up against the best teams in the country will help us take another step in our own building process of Maryland softball.”
Maryland's schedule can be broken down into two parts: non-conference and Big Ten play. The first 24 games of the 2016 season make up the non-conference schedule and the second half of the season (minus a midweek doubleheader against St. Francis) make up the Big Ten schedule.
Almost every weekend in the non-conference portion of the schedule features a perennial powerhouse as Maryland will go up against Oregon at the Kajikawa Classic, Alabama (twice) in Atlanta, and Oklahoma (twice) in Norman. These three teams all start the season in the NFCA Top Ten and finished last season with a combined record of 148-32 (.822). Alabama and Oklahoma have both recently won National Championships (2012 and 2013), while Oregon is in contention every year.
Contests against 2015 NCAA Tournament teams Florida Atlantic, Ball State, Binghamton, North Dakota State,and BYU will provide Maryland with chances to boost its tournament resume in February and March.
“The Big Ten plays some of the finest softball in the country,” said Wright. “A schedule like this is key in helping us prepare for conference play.”
The Big Ten is one of the nation's top softball conferences. Last year, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern all made the NCAA Tournament and Michigan advanced all the way to the championship. This year, Maryland plays three of those four (Michigan, Minnesota, and Nebraska) as well as contender Ohio State. The Terrapins host Nebraska in College Park (April 1-3) and play Ohio State, Michigan and Minnesota on the road. Michigan starts the season ranked No. 2, while Minnesota starts the season ranked No. 14. Maryland will likely have even more chances to knock off the top dogs at the Big Ten Tournament, held from May 12-14 at Penn State.
Led by seniors Lindsey Schmeiser and Corey Schwartz, the Maryland Softball team will have plenty of opportunities to take the next step as a program in 2016.
