Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Breeden, MT softball announce 2020 slate
10/29/2019 11:00:00 AM | Softball, BRAA
Blue Raiders home 16 times in the spring
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball returns eight starters and its top three pitchers to take on their 2020 opponents, which were revealed by Head Coach Jeff Breeden on Tuesday.
A jam-packed February spent mostly on the road will prepare MT for its Conference USA slate, which begins on the first weekend in March. Eight of MT's opponents in the new season were in the postseason in 2019, including four that played in NCAA Regionals.
The Blue Raiders will take on six opponents in the Cal State Fullerton Tournament (Feb. 6-9) to begin the season, followed by five games at Madeira Beach Tournament I (Feb. 14-16).
MT's home opener is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. against Kentucky. The Wildcats ended the season in all four of the national rankings, reaching as high as No. 16 in the NCAA Softball RPI.
After the showdown with Kentucky, the Blue Raiders will hit the road again, facing five opponents in the Mardi Gras Mambo (Feb. 21-23), followed by Madeira Beach Tournament II (Feb. 28-March 1).
"We hope that our four pre-conference tournaments will get us ready for what it's going to be like in conference," Breeden said. "Other than the Kentucky game, we're playing about 20 nonconference teams that are right where we are RPI-wise. We're going to have an opportunity to win every game or lose every game, and we'll have to show up and play."
On their way back from Madeira Beach Tournament II, the Blue Raiders will stop in Montgomery, Alabama to take on Alabama State in a nonconference midweek doubleheader (March 3).
Other nonconference away games include Belmont (March 18), Murray State (April 7) and Austin Peay (April 21). Midweek nonconference games in Murfreesboro after February are against Tennessee State (March 11), UT-Martin (March 24) and Tennessee Tech (April 1).
C-USA action gets underway on March 6-8, as MT travels to Bowling Green to face rival WKU. MT will also take road trips to UAB (March 20-22), FIU (April 3-5), and Marshall (April 24-26). As for C-USA home contests, the Blue Raiders will host Charlotte (March 13-15), FAU (March 27-29), North Texas (April 9-11), and UTSA (May 1-3).
"Conference USA is going to be competitive this year again just like it always is," Breeden added. "We expect everybody in our conference to be good. I think it's wide open and everyone's conference to win."
New this year in C-USA play is the Friday-Saturday-Sunday series, which is a change from the previous format of a Saturday doubleheader followed by the third game of the series played on Sunday. All home C-USA games in 2020 are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Friday, 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
"The way we're going to do things is different this year with the three single games per weekend, so it should be more fan-friendly this spring. There should be more promotions happening, and our new videoboard will be up and running, which will add more to our game experience," Breeden said.
Once the regular season is complete, the top eight C-USA teams will meet in the Conference USA Championships on May 6-9 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
A jam-packed February spent mostly on the road will prepare MT for its Conference USA slate, which begins on the first weekend in March. Eight of MT's opponents in the new season were in the postseason in 2019, including four that played in NCAA Regionals.
The Blue Raiders will take on six opponents in the Cal State Fullerton Tournament (Feb. 6-9) to begin the season, followed by five games at Madeira Beach Tournament I (Feb. 14-16).
MT's home opener is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. against Kentucky. The Wildcats ended the season in all four of the national rankings, reaching as high as No. 16 in the NCAA Softball RPI.
After the showdown with Kentucky, the Blue Raiders will hit the road again, facing five opponents in the Mardi Gras Mambo (Feb. 21-23), followed by Madeira Beach Tournament II (Feb. 28-March 1).
"We hope that our four pre-conference tournaments will get us ready for what it's going to be like in conference," Breeden said. "Other than the Kentucky game, we're playing about 20 nonconference teams that are right where we are RPI-wise. We're going to have an opportunity to win every game or lose every game, and we'll have to show up and play."
On their way back from Madeira Beach Tournament II, the Blue Raiders will stop in Montgomery, Alabama to take on Alabama State in a nonconference midweek doubleheader (March 3).
Other nonconference away games include Belmont (March 18), Murray State (April 7) and Austin Peay (April 21). Midweek nonconference games in Murfreesboro after February are against Tennessee State (March 11), UT-Martin (March 24) and Tennessee Tech (April 1).
C-USA action gets underway on March 6-8, as MT travels to Bowling Green to face rival WKU. MT will also take road trips to UAB (March 20-22), FIU (April 3-5), and Marshall (April 24-26). As for C-USA home contests, the Blue Raiders will host Charlotte (March 13-15), FAU (March 27-29), North Texas (April 9-11), and UTSA (May 1-3).
"Conference USA is going to be competitive this year again just like it always is," Breeden added. "We expect everybody in our conference to be good. I think it's wide open and everyone's conference to win."
New this year in C-USA play is the Friday-Saturday-Sunday series, which is a change from the previous format of a Saturday doubleheader followed by the third game of the series played on Sunday. All home C-USA games in 2020 are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Friday, 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
"The way we're going to do things is different this year with the three single games per weekend, so it should be more fan-friendly this spring. There should be more promotions happening, and our new videoboard will be up and running, which will add more to our game experience," Breeden said.
Once the regular season is complete, the top eight C-USA teams will meet in the Conference USA Championships on May 6-9 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Softball), Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).
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