Aces ready for competitive slate in the spring
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Competitive games across the board, including a tournament hosted by a 2021 Women’s College World Series participant, comprise the 2022 schedule for the University of Evansville softball team.
A balanced, competitive slate will give the Purple Aces valuable experience over the course of the season while preparing the squad for the ultra-competitive Missouri Valley Conference schedule, which saw two programs represent the league in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
“I am thrilled to be able to release our spring schedule. Aces fans will love to see all of the great opponents we will be playing this season,†UE head softball coach Mat Mundell exclaimed. “Our schedule is going to be tough, but we did this intentionally to get our team ready for MVC play.â€
UE will hit the ground running when it opens the season on February 11 at the Best on the Bayou Classic. Hosted by Louisiana Monroe, the events begins with a matchup versus Stephen F. Austin, who went 35-12 a season ago. The Aces will also face Morehead State, Southern, Mississippi Valley State and SIU Edwardsville in the first weekend of the season.
In what may be one of the most competitive events in program history, Evansville makes the trek to the Easton Bama Bash, which will be held on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. UE opens on Feb. 18 against Middle Tennessee State, who won 26 games last year while going 11-8 in Conference USA. The day continues against the Crimson Tide, who won 52 games last season on their way to a berth in the Women’s College World Series. Alabama also won the SEC Championship and earned a #2 preseason ranking by D1softball.com.
An exciting weekend continues on the 19th with a morning game against Virginia Tech, who is 11th in the 2022 D1softball.compreseason poll. The Hokies were 37-15 in 2021 while earning 23 ACC wins. An at-large team in the NCAA Tournament, Virginia Tech won the Tempe Regional before picking up a win in the opening game of the Super Regional at UCLA. UE faces MTSU and VT twice during the tournament. The month of February comes to a close at the Hub City Challenge in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Aces face SIU Edwardsville and Southern Miss in two contests each with the fifth game coming against Alcorn State.
March gets underway with a home tournament March 4-6. A competitive field includes Oakland, Green Bay, Morehead State, Creighton and Bowling Green. Oakland went 26-16 last year on their way to the Horizon League Championship game. The Phoenix of Green Bay were also one of the top squads in the Horizon, winning 23 games. The Blue Jays and Falcons were both .500 in 2021.
Following a midweek game on March 9 at UT Martin, the Aces trek to Murray, Kentucky for their final non-conference tournament. The Racer Classic will feature two games apiece versus St. Thomas and Western Illinois along with a single game versus Murray State. St. Thomas is set for its first Division I campaign, but was extremely successful at the Division III level, going 33-10 last year while finishing with a 5th-place ranking nationally.
Evansville welcomes Tennessee Tech for a March 16 doubleheader before opening Missouri Valley Conference action at home on the 19th against Drake. The homestand continues on 3/26-3/27 with a series against UNI. The Panthers won 32 games last season on their way to an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Playing in the Columbia Regional, UNI picked up a win over Iowa State.
April begins with a 3-game set at Loyola on April 2-3. Following a home doubleheader versus Bellarmine on the 6th, UE travels to Normal, Ill. to take on Illinois State on the 9th and 10th of April. Evansville returns to Cooper Stadium on April 15-16 to face Missouri State, who was 26-17 overall last year, but kicked it into gear in Valley play, finishing at 16-6. A 5-game road stretch includes at doubleheader at Indiana State on April 20 before three games at Bradley that weekend.
Home play for the season wraps up as April comes to a close. The Aces welcome Indiana State for a single game on April 27 before defending MVC Champion Southern Illinois comes to town for three games on April 30 and May 1. A trip to Valparaiso on May 6-7 completes the regular season. Missouri State will host the 2022 MVC Softball Championship in Springfield, Mo. It runs from May 11 through the 14th.
