FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota State University's 53-game 2020 softball schedule features a nine-game home schedule, the Summit League Championship and 13 teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season including three that moved into the Super Regional and two that made the Women's College World Series. NDSU head coach
Darren Mueller made the announcement today.
Eight tournaments open the season and send the Bison from coast to coast starting Feb. 7-9 at the South Carolina Tournament. NDSU then travels to the Florida Tournament (Feb. 14-16), the Texas Tournament (Feb. 21-23), the Sam Houston State Tournament (Feb. 28-March 1), the Fresno State Tournament (March 6-8), the Loyola Marymount Tournament (March 14-16), the LMU Triangular (March 17) and the BYU Tournament (March 20-21). There is also a doubleheader at Minnesota on April 22.
Opponents BYU, Florida, Harvard, Lipscomb, Longwood, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, Ohio State, Sam Houston State, South Carolina, Southern Illinois, Texas and Weber State all advanced to the NCAA tournament last season. Florida, Minnesota and Texas all went to the Super Regionals with the Gophers and Gators competing at the Women's College World Series.
"This may be one of our most challenging schedules we have had to help get us ready for league play," said Mueller, who enters his 19th season with a 647-350 record. This will mark his 26th year with the program.
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The NDSU nine-game home schedule at Tharaldson Park begins April 4-5 against Purdue Fort Wayne. The Bison host South Dakota on April 10-11 and Western Illinois on April 25-26.
North Dakota State opens Summit League play at South Dakota State with a three-game series March 28-29.
NDSU is scheduled to host the six-team Summit League Championship on May 6-9 at Tharaldson Park.
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There are seven first-time opponents including Harvard, Idaho State, Florida A&M, Lipscomb, Louisiana Tech, UNC Greensboro and Wagner.
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North Dakota State finished the 2019 season with a 42-16 record. NDSU won its eighth Summit League regular season and 10th tournament championship to advance to the NCAA tournament.
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2020 North Dakota State Softball Schedule
Date                Opponent                                                        Time                Site                            Â
2/7-9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â # South Carolina Tournament at Columbia, S.C.
2/7                   at South Carolina                                            2:30 PM           Columbia, S.C.
2/8                   UNC Greensboro                                            10:30 PM           Columbia, S.C.
2/8                   Ohio State                                                     12:30 PM         Columbia, S.C.
2/8                   UNC Greensboro                                             5:30 PM           Columbia, S.C.
2/9                   Southern Illinois                                             10:00 AM         Columbia, S.C.
2/14-16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â & University of Florida Tournament at Gainesville, Fla.
2/14                 SE Louisiana                                                   9:00 AM           Gainesville, Fla.
2/14                 at Florida                                                         4:30 PM           Gainesville, Fla.
2/15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Florida A&MÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9:00 AMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gainesville, Fla.
2/15                 at Florida                                                         11:30 AM         Gainesville, Fla.
2/16                 Longwood                                                     9:00 AM           Gainesville, Fla.          Â
2/21-23Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â % University of Texas Tournament at Austin, Texas
2/21                 Weber State                                                   11:30 AM         Austin, Texas  Â
2/21                 at Texas                                                          4:30 PM           Austin, Texas
2/22                 Weber State                                                   9:00 AM           Austin, Texas
2/22                 Duke                                                              2:00 PM           Austin, Texas
2/23                 Lipscomb                                                        9:00 AM           Austin, Texas  Â
2/28-3/1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ? Sam Houston State Tournament at Huntsville, Texas
2/28                 at Sam Houston State                                       6:30 PM           Huntsville, Texas
2/29                 at Sam Houston State                                       1:00 PM           Huntsville, Texas
2/29                 Louisiana Tech                                               3:30 PM           Huntsville, Texas
3/1                   Louisiana Tech                                               10:00 AM         Huntsville, Texas
3/6-8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â + Fresno State Tournament at Fresno, Calif.
3/6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â BYUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2:30 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fresno, Calif.
3/6                   at Fresno State                                               7:30 PM           Fresno, Calif.
3/7                   UC Davis                                                         11:30 AM         Fresno, Calif.
3/7                   at Fresno State                                               5:00 PM           Fresno, Calif.
3/8                   East Carolina                                                   9:00 AM           Fresno, Calif.                          Â
3/14-16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @ LMU Tournament at Los Angeles, Calif.
3/14                 Wagner                                                           8:00 AM           Los Angeles, Calif.
3/15                 Idaho State                                                    10:15 AM         Los Angeles, Calif.
3/15                 Iowa State                                                      2:45 PM           Los Angeles, Calif.
3/16                 Wagner                                                          8:00 AM           Los Angeles, Calif.
3/16                 Cal State Northridge                                       12:30 PM         Los Angeles, Calif.
3/17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ! LMU Triangular at Los Angeles, Calif.
3/17                 Harvard                                                           10:00 AM         Los Angeles, Calif.
3/17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â at LMUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12:15 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Los Angeles, Calif.
3/20-21 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â = BYU Tournament at Provo, Utah
3/20                 Montana                                                          12:00 PM         Provo, Utah
3/20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â at BYUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 5:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Provo, Utah
3/21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â at BYUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Provo, Utah
3/28Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * at South Dakota State (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brookings, S.D.
3/29                 * at South Dakota State                                    11:00 AM         Brookings, S.D.
4/4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * PURDUE FORT WAYNE (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FARGO
4/5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * PURDUE FORT WAYNEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11:00 AMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FARGO
4/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * SOUTH DAKOTA (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FARGO
4/11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * SOUTH DAKOTAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11:00 AMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FARGO
4/18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * at Omaha (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Omaha, Neb.
4/19                 * at Omaha                                                     11:00 AM         Omaha, Neb.
4/22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â at Minnesota (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Minneapolis, Minn.
4/25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * WESTERN ILLINOIS (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FARGO
4/26Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * WESTERN ILLINOISÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 11:00 AMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FARGO
5/2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * at North Dakota (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 12:00 PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Grand Forks, N.D.
5/3                   * at North Dakota                                           12:00 PM         Grand Forks, N.D.
5/6-9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SUMMIT LEAGUE TOURNAMENTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TBAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FARGO
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*--Summit League Game; (2)--Doubleheader
Legend: # -- South Carolina Tournament; & -- Florida Tournament; % -- Texas Tournament; ? – Sam Houston State Tournament; + -- Fresno State Tournament; @ -- Loyola Marymount Tournament; ! – LMU Triangular; = -- BYU Tournament
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ALL TIMES LOCAL
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