Oct. 22, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
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San Diego State softball head coach Kathy Van Wyk has announced a 53-game spring schedule, highlighted by 23 games (43.4 percent) against teams who made the 2009 NCAA tournament. The Aztecs, who last year finished 33-20 to advance to their second straight trip to the tournament and third in four seasons, will once again play host to three tournaments, including the 20th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic.
Of SDSU's 39 opponents, 17 (43.6 percent) will be against 2009 tournament teams, including national champion Washington and Women's College World Series member Missouri. In addition, San Diego State will play four top-10 RPI teams from a year ago and seven top-25 RPI programs.
The Aztecs will begin their season on the road for the third consecutive year when it travels to Tempe, Ariz., to compete in the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by 2008 NCAA champion Arizona State. SDSU will begin its 34th season on Feb. 11, 2010, against Creighton. San Diego State will also meet 2009 NCAA tournament foes Kentucky and Purdue, as well as Southern Utah, Pac-10 power Oregon and Big 12 opponent Texas Tech.
The following weekend (Feb. 18-21), San Diego State will play host to the prestigious 20th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic. This year's classic will be solid again as the Aztecs will meet UC Santa Barbara, Western Kentucky, 2009 NCAA champion Huskies, Penn State and Utah State.
After a midweek contest with Cal State Northridge on Feb. 24, SDSU will take part in the always competitive Cathedral City Classic (Feb. 25-27) near Palm Springs, Calif. In its biggest test so far in the season, San Diego State will play four of its five games against 2009 NCAA tourney teams, including Oklahoma, which earned the No. 7 seed a year ago, and top-35 RPI teams Baylor (No. 29), Texas A&M (No. 34) and California (No. 22). The Aztecs will also meet Fordham, a team that contends for the Atlantic 10 championship almost every season.
SDSU returns to Montezuma Mesa to co-host (along with San Diego) the San Diego Classic I from March 4-7. San Diego State will play UTEP, Oregon, perennial national power Fresno State, Wisconsin and 11-time national champion UCLA.
Following two home single night games versus Mid-American schools Northern Illinois (March 9) and Buffalo (March 10), the Aztecs make their first-ever trip to the "Show Me State" to compete in the Missouri Tournament. Four of SDSU's five games - Illinois (twice), Bradley and the host Tigers - will be against teams that made last year's NCAA tournament. In fact, each of three schools played in the same opening regional in Columbia. San Diego State's other game is against Illinois State, a team that beat the Aztecs, 1-0, last year in Palo Alto, Calif.
SDSU returns to American's Finest City when it co-hosts the San Diego Classic II from March 18-22. San Diego State's scheduled opponents include 2009 NCAA tournament teams Massachusetts and Texas A&M, perennial NCAA qualifiers Kansas and Oregon State, and Ivy League standout Harvard.
The Aztecs then play back-to-back road games against 2009 NCAA tournament participant and Big West powers Long Beach State (March 30) and Cal State Fullerton (March 31), before playing a home-and-home series with San Diego. On April 2, San Diego State will travel to the USD Softball Complex (6 p.m.). The Toreros will return the favor on April 3 for a 1 p.m. game at SDSU Softball Stadium.
The Aztecs begin their quest for a fifth MWC title April 9 at home against New Mexico. SDSU will play each of the five teams in the conference three times. San Diego State's biggest challenge may come in a seven-game stretch from April 17-May 6, where it will play three contests each against 2009 NCAA tourney teams Brigham Young and UNLV. In addition, four of its seven games over the three weeks will be one the road.
Following league action, the Aztecs will await a possible bid to the NCAA tournament.
SDSU returns five of its position starters from a year ago, while bringing back the 1-2 punch of pitchers Bailey Micetich and Samantha Beasley. Last season, the underclassmen duo posted a 1.91 ERA, while setting a school record with 407 strikeouts.