FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State head softball coach Darren Mueller has announced the 2021 Bison softball schedule, which begins in mid-February with the first of five tournament weekends before the start of Summit League play.
 
North Dakota State will open the season Feb. 19-21 in Lake Charles, La., with five games in the McNeese State Cowgirl Classic. The Bison will also travel to Arkansas, Ole Miss, Middle Tennessee State and Kansas for tournament action.
 
NDSU begins Summit League play on the road with three-game series March 27-28 at Western Illinois and April 2-3 at Kansas City. The Bison home opener at Tharaldson Park is scheduled for April 10-11 against South Dakota.
 
Big 12 opponent Iowa State will come to Fargo for the first time since 2008 to play a three-game series April 16-18 during a bye week in the Summit League schedule.
 
NDSU finishes the Summit League slate at home April 24-25 against Omaha and May 1-2 against North Dakota before traveling to South Dakota State on the final weekend of the regular season May 7-8.
 
North Dakota State will host the Summit League Softball Championship presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare on May 12-15 at Tharaldson Park. The tournament is coming to Fargo for the ninth time since 2010. The Bison have won the league championship 10 times in the past 11 seasons.