Looks like a very challenging schedule......…….
https://ucasports.com/news/2019/12/13/bears-announce-2020-softball-schedule.aspxCONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas announced its 2020 softball schedule on Monday. Head Coach David Kuhn enters his 12th season at the helm for the Bears as UCA has its sights set on competing for a Southland Conference Championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
The Bears will face some stiff competition early, as three of the first six matchups feature teams that reached the NCAA tournament last season. UCA opens the 2020 campaign with six games in the state of Louisiana.
Central Arkansas travels to Louisiana State for the season opener on Feb. 6, against the first of two opponents who reached the Super Regionals last season. The Tigers finished the 2019 season ranked No. 10 and closed out the year tied for the second-best record in the Southeastern Conference.
The Bears wrap up their stay in Louisiana with five games in the Louisiana Tech tournament Feb. 7-9. UCA will face Montana, Jackson State, Texas Tech, Alabama A&M, and Louisiana Tech. Texas Tech, who ended the season ranked No. 15, and Louisiana Tech each earned a berth into the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Louisiana Tech won the 2019 Conference USA Tournament championship. Alabama A&M finished the regular season first in the East side of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
UCA will be at home for the first time of the 2020 campaign on Feb. 11, with a matchup against Lyon, before the Bears make a trip to Florida.
While in Florida, UCA will faceoff with Butler, Middle Tennessee, Presbyterian, Akron, and South Dakota between Feb. 14-16. Last season, Middle Tennessee and South Dakota each played in the National Invitational Softball Championship.
The Bears return home Feb. 21-23, for the Michelle Short Memorial Classic. The classic features games against Jackson State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Morehead State, and Southern Mississippi.
UCA takes to the road for another SEC matchup with Mississippi State in Starkville, Mississippi, on Feb. 26. The Bulldogs are another foe that reached the NCAA tournament last season.
Central Arkansas returns from Mississippi for another home tournament Feb. 28-March 1, for the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic. This year's classic features Belmont, Louisiana-Monroe, Northern Iowa, and Stephen F. Austin. SFA is another team that participated in the NISC and will be the first game against a Southland Conference foe, but will not be counted as a conference game.
On March 3, the Bears travel to face an SEC opponent for the third and final time during the regular season as they square off with Ole Miss. Ole Miss reached the Super Regionals last season and finished the year ranked No. 17.
UCA returns home March 6-7, for the SLC opener as UIW comes to Farris Field for three games. The Bears host Alcorn State for a double header on March 10, before SLC foe McNeese State comes to town on March 13-14. The nine-game homestand comes to an end with a nonconference matchup with Mississippi Valley State on March 17.
Central Arkansas takes to the road for the next seven games which feature the first SLC road games of the season at Nicholls on March 20-21, followed by three more games at Houston Baptist on March 27-28. The road trip ends on March 31, with a game against Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri.
The Bears return to the friendly confines of Farris Field on April 1, with another matchup against UAPB. UCA welcomes Northwestern State on April 3-4, for three SLC games, before ending the homestand against Louisiana-Monroe on April 7.
Central Arkansas takes to the road for a brief three-game series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on April 9-10. The Bears host Memphis on April 15, before taking to the road for the final regular season matchup with defending SLC Tournament Champions, Sam Houston State on April 17-18. Sam Houston State earned the Southland's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Bears close out the regular season with two SLC series at Farris Field. The first against Lamar on April 24-25, followed by Southeastern Louisiana on May 1-2. The Southland Conference Tournament will take place in Hammond, Louisiana, on May 5-8.
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"I am very excited about our upcoming season. We have a very challenging schedule. We will face some outstanding teams at home and on the road. We play six teams that went to the NCAA tournament and two of those were Super Regional finalists (LSU/Ole Miss). We also play four teams that went to the NISC (the NIT of Softball) Championship. This schedule will prepare us for the Southland Conference."
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