2014 Outlook
and two versus the host Georgia Southern. The Eagles are coming off their second straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Coach Dabney’s squad will begin an eight-game home stand at Tiger Field on Mar. 4 as they host Holy Cross for a doubleheader. Ohio will be the opponent for a single game on Mar. 5 before hosting the Tiger Invitational Mar. 7-9. The format will consist of pool play against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, North Carolina A&T and Saint Louis, followed by bracket play over the final two days. Just before the start of Ohio Valley Conference play, the Tigers will once again face one of the nation’s best as they travel to Georgia on Mar. 12 for a single game. The Bulldogs have been to three of the last six WCWS and advanced to Regionals last season. UGA finished 2013 ranked 22nd in the country.
The second week of the season will begin with one of the toughest three-game spans in Division-I. The Tigers will face 2008 and 2011 National Champions, Arizona State, in a single game in Tempe on Feb. 13. The Sun Devils have been to the Women’s College World Series seven out of the last eight seasons and finished last year ranked 7th in the country. The trip continues the next day with the start of the Hillenbrand Invitational in Tucson. The Tigers’ first two opponents on Feb. 14 are Arizona and Alabama. The Wildcats claimed back-to-back National Championships in 2006 and 2007, and were runner-ups in 2010. Arizona ended 2013 ranked 32nd. The Crimson Tide secured their first title in 2012 and was ranked 10th in last year’s final poll.
The journey to reach the OVC tournament for the first time since 2001 begins Mar. 15-16 with a three-game home series against Eastern Kentucky. During OVC play, the Tigers will also host Murray State (Mar. 22 doubleheader), OVC tournament champion Jacksonville State (Mar.29-30 three game series), SIU Edwardsville (Apr. 18 doubleheader) and OVC regular season champion Eastern Illinois (Apr. 19 doubleheader). The final non-conference match-up is a twin bill with Samford at Tiger Field. The former OVC member will come to town on Apr. 9.
The Tigers continue the tournament on Feb. 15 with games versus Grand Canyon and New Mexico, while closing out play in Tucson against Georgia Tech on Feb. 16. The 2014 campaign begins in Nashville at the Music City Classic hosted by Lipscomb and Belmont. The Tigers open with ACC power Virginia Tech and Lipscomb on Feb. 8. The Hokies ended their season at Regionals and ranked 30th. The tournament concludes with games versus Miami (Ohio) and East Tennessee State. TSU will open the home portion of their schedule as they host the Tiger Classic Feb.21-23. Youngstown State, Western Michigan, Temple, Dayton and Indiana State will visit the Land of Golden Sunshine. The Tigers will travel to Statesboro, Ga., for their final non-conference tournament Feb. 28-Mar. 2. The Eagle Classic will supply a game versus Troy, two versus Middle Tennessee State
2014 Softball Media Guide
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