Central Michigan University Athletics
Five NCAA Tournament Qualifiers on 2013 Softball Schedule
10/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MOUNT PLEASANT - The 2013 Central Michigan softball schedule features a series with five 2012 NCAA Tournament qualifiers, including one that went to the Women’s College World Series, and 14 games at Margo Jonker Stadium - including two against the 2012 MAC Tournament runner-up Chippewas’ first rematch with Miami (OH), the 2012 MAC Tournament Champion.
The schedule will feature five teams that won 40 or more games last season, and 12 teams that finished .500 for the season.
The Chippewas, who finished the 2012 campaign third in the MAC West with a 30-27 overall record and went 12-12 in the MAC, will open the season on the road, including playing in three tournaments; one in New Mexico (Feb. 15-17) and two in South Florida (March 1-3 and March 8-10).
A March 6 matchup with Women’s College World Series qualifier South Florida, who finished 50-14 and eighth in the final USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll, will put the Chippewas to the test early in the season.
Also included in the early non-conference road schedule are a doubleheader with 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Champion Bethune-Cookman and a game against 2012 Atlantic 10 Champion Massachusetts.
The Chippewas will also travel to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers and fellow Big Ten opponent Michigan State, in addition to Wright State and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
CMU will return home from the road trip for their first home game of the season at Margo Jonker Stadium on April 3 versus in-state rival Detroit, before it hosts MAC conference games against Buffalo April 5 and Kent State April 6-7. The Chippewas will then travel to Michigan State on April 9.
The Chippewas will host 2012 MAC Tournament Champion Miami on April 27-28 at Margo Jonker Stadium. The last time the teams played was the double-elimination Championship game of the MAC Tournament. Miami defeated CMU, 4-0, claiming the MAC title.
Other Mid-American Conference games to be played at Jonker Stadium include a double-header against Bowling Green (April 19), Toledo (April 20-21) and a doubleheader with Ball State (April 26).
The Chippewas will also travel to longtime rivals Western Michigan to play a two-game series on April 13-14. The last time the two teams played in 2012 CMU won both contests.
CMU's conference road schedule includes trips to Eastern Michigan (March 30-March 31), a doubleheader at Northern Illinois (April 12), a doubleheader at Akron (May 3) and Ohio (May 4-5).
In-state foes Oakland and Michigan, which finished 15th in the final Coaches Poll, are also featured on the 2013 schedule The Chippewas will travel to play the Golden Grizzlies on March 19 and head to Ann Arbor (April 23), before hosting MAC conference games against Ball State and Miami.
Michigan, Ball State and Miami each recorded 40 or more wins in 2012. Ball State was the top regular-season MAC team, going 17-3 in conference play in 2012.
The 2013 MAC Tournament will take place on May 9-12 in Akron, Ohio. The 2013 NCAA regionals will start May 17 and end May 19 determining who will move on to the Super-Regionals on May 24-26.
