https://ucasports.com/news/2023/11/14/softball-unveils-2024-schedule.aspxCONWAY, Ark. – A new leaf turns over for the Central Arkansas softball team, who announces its Spring 2024 schedule. Under the direction of third-year head coach Jenny Parsons, the Bears look to repeat their success from 2023 after winning their first ASUN Championships and making their first NCAA Regional since 2015. With a tough nonconference slate and a host of talented opponents, the Bears open the schedule on February 9th.
"This schedule has been built with the intention of testing and improving our group this year. It's not going to be easy, but we have been building toward this for a while now," Parsons said of the schedule. "The games we play in February and March are designed for the games we want to play in May, and I'm excited for the challenge."
Opening weekend will be spent out of the cold of February in Clearwater, Fla., as the Bears start the season in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. While in the Sunshine State, Central Arkansas will play
Notre Dame, North Carolina Central, Kansas and South Alabama. The NFCA Leadoff Classic is one of the premier tournaments in the country, with national powerhouses like Clemson, Oregon and Utah also in attendance.
The following weekend, Central Arkansas returns to Lake Charles, La., to battle in McNeese's tournament from February 16th-18th. That tournament adds to the gauntlet of nationally ranked opponents, as the
Bears get set to face the reigning champion Oklahoma Sooners twice over the weekend, while also facing McNeese and Lamar. After two tournaments on the road, the Bears will host
three tournaments at home playing at Farris Field for three-straight weeks without a road game. First up is the Michelle Short Memorial Classic, with
SIU, South Dakota State and Purdue coming to Conway. The next weekend is the Adam Brown Memorial Tournament, featuring
St. Francis and Chattanooga. The third and newest tournament added to the schedule is in remembrance of the late Milisa Moore, who worked in Central Arkansas' athletic department for a number of years before passing away this past spring. The Bears will host a tournament in her honor, inviting
Louisiana and Stephen F. Austin for the inaugural playing of the Milisa Moore Tournament.
Following 12 tournament games and two midweek games in a row, the Bears take a quick trip to face
Oklahoma State, after hosting the Cowgirls this past season. The game in Stillwater wraps up nonconference play for the Bears, who will play 25 games in preparation for the ASUN schedule.
ASUN games start on March 15th, with the Bears hosting for a fourth-straight weekend. The 2024 conference slate starts with Eastern Kentucky, who makes the trek from Richmond, Ky., to Conway for a three-game series. The other home series in conference play are as follows: Stetson (3/29-30), North Alabama (4/13-14) and the regular season finale against Bellarmine (5/3-4). The Bears also play four road series in ASUN games, facing Austin Peay (3/23-24), Queens (4/6-7), Lipscomb (4/20-21) and Kennesaw State (4/26-27) away from home.
Midweeks during the conference run include rematches against
Missouri State and Tulsa, both of which are on the road this season. The big games to circle in the second half of the season are the
home-and-home games against Arkansas. After sweeping the Razorbacks in both games last season, the Bears return to Bogle Field on March 26th, in between the Austin Peay and Stetson series. Central Arkansas then
hosts the Hogs on April 30th, the midweek of the final week of the regular season.
As part of an expansion from last season, Central Arkansas
will be ticketing all home games this season. More information regarding pricing options will be released as the season gets closer, with ticket sales opening in January.