ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – A fully loaded slate is planned for the UCF softball team in 2017, as head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie released the upcoming spring schedule on Tuesday.
The Knights face 14 teams from the 2016 NCAA Tournament field, including four that advanced to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. UCF, which made its third consecutive NCAA tournament for the first time in program history in 2016, faces five of those teams in the first three weekends of the season.
"We're looking forward to the 2017 season," Gillispie said. "We're very excited about the teams that are on our schedule."
UCF will host 28 games at the UCF Softball Complex and fans can place a deposit on season tickets to watch each home contest by clicking here.
including the season-opening UCF Knights Invitational, which runs from Feb. 10-12. The Black and Gold host a pair of NCAA tournament teams, Kentucky and Florida A&M, along with Pittsburgh, during the three-day tournament.
For the second straight season, the Knights make the cross-country trip to Palm Springs, Calif., Feb. 18-19. UCF will face a pair of Pac-12 foes, UCLA and California, along with Cal Poly and Loyola Marymount at the Mary Nutter Classic. The Black and Gold take on the Bruins for the second time in as many campaigns, dropping a close 2-0 decision to UCLA last season.
The Knights head to Tuscaloosa Feb. 24-26 for the Easton Bama Bash. UCF is set to face Gardner-Webb, Texas Tech and the host Crimson Tide in five games at Rhoads Stadium. In 2016, No. 15 UCF topped No. 5 Alabama, 8-1, in the first Top 25 matchup at the UCF Softball Complex.
After traveling to FGCU on March 1, the UCF Invitational marks the start of 19-straight home games for the Knights. The Black and Gold welcome Providence and FGCU for the three-day tournament, which runs March 3-5.
For the third straight season, James Madison returns to the UCF Softball Complex, but the March 8 contest marks the first time in the last three campaigns that the Knights and Dukes will not meet in a tournament setting.
Georgia, who earned its WCWS berth in 2016 after knocking defending champion Florida out in the super regionals, joins Ohio State, Delaware State and Mercer for the three-day UCF Wilson/DeMarini tournament March 10-12.
A doubleheader against Iowa State (March 14) is followed by a three-game series with Baylor. The Knights host the Bears March 17-19, returning the favor after a three-game series in Waco last season.
For the first time since 2013, UCF welcomes Florida State to the UCF Softball Complex on March 22. The last meeting between the squads came in the 2015 NCAA Tallahassee Regional.
The quest for a third American Athletic Conference championship begins March 24 as UCF hosts Houston for a three-game series. The conference schedule will again follow the Friday-Sunday format, with one game each day.
A single game with North Florida, who added former UCF standout Shelby Turnier to its coaching staff during the offseason, rounds out the homestand on March 29.
UCF heads to East Carolina for a three-game league series March 31-April 2. The Knights make the trip to Boca Raton to face FAU on April 5 before going to Memphis for a three-game series with the Tigers April 7-9.
The War on I-4 comes to the UCF Softball Complex April 13-15 as the Knights host USF for a three-game conference series. Last season, UCF won two of the three meetings in Tampa to claim the series win, but the Bulls were able to capture The American regular season title with a victory in game two.
For the 10th consecutive year, UCF and Florida will meet on the field. The Gators host the Knights in Gainesville on April 19.
A three-game series with UConn at the UCF Softball Complex from April 28-30 is followed by a trip to Daytona Beach to take Bethune-Cookman on May 3. The Knights close out the regular season with a three-game league series at Tulsa May 5-7.
The 2017 American Athletic Conference Tournament begins May 11 in Greenville, N.C. The Knights look to capture their second tournament title in three years.
Sophomore Cassady Brewer, who was named the 2016 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, and junior Courtney Rotton, an NFCA All-Region selection last season, are among six returning starters for the Knights. UCF added seven new members to its roster for the 2017 campaign.
