Aces to face defending national champion in 2017
  With the core base returning from last year’s 24-win squad, the University of Evansville softball team has its sights set on 2017 where it will take on the top competition in the country.
Three top five squads from the final 2016 poll highlight the schedule, including defending national champion Oklahoma. The Purple Aces will face the Sooners at least once in a tournament in Norman, Okla. Evansville is slated to face national runner-up last season – Auburn – in the opening weekend of the year. Michigan, who finished 5th in the final rankings, will be one of the opponents in a March tournament in Lexington, K
“We felt with nine seniors this was the year to really test ourselves in nonconference. We are excited to be playing the defending National Champions and the runner’s up,†Aces head coach Mat Mundell said. “This schedule is built to help us prepare for the always tough MVC. Being able to share the experience of traveling to some of the top programs in the country I feel will be an amazing experience for our ladies.â€
Aside from those top five squads mentioned above, the Aces also take on NCAA Tournament squads Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Wichita State.
The season officially commences on February 17 at the Plainsman Invitational in Auburn, Ala. where UE faces Mercer, SIU Edwardsville, Creighton and Auburn. The second weekend of play will see the Aces make a quick trip to Nashville, Tenn. for a doubleheader against Belmont before a single game at Tennessee State.
Next up is a western swing that begins at the Courtyard Marriott Tournament in Norman, Okla. Aside from facing the defending national champion Sooners, UE also faces Western Kentucky and Northwestern State March 3-5. Two days after completing the tournament, Evansville will remain in the state of Oklahoma, facing Oklahoma State in a single game in Oklahoma City.
One more challenging tournament is on tap from March 10-12 as the Aces trek to Lexington, Ky. where they will play against Kentucky, Michigan, Dayton, Kent State and Drexel. The Wolverines were a College World Series participant while UK was also in the NCAA Tournament.
After the trip to Kentucky, the Aces are back home for a 10-game home stand that begins on March 14 with a doubleheader against Northern Illinois. Missouri Valley Conference play begins on March 18-19 versus Loyola and continues a week later with a 3-game set against Bradley. A March 29 doubleheader will see Kent State come to Cooper Stadium.
The next three MVC weekends will be on the road with series at UNI (April 1-2), Drake (April 8-9) and Missouri State (April 14-15). UE will host non-conference doubleheaders in between against Austin Peay (April 5) and UT Martin (April 11).
Conference play returns to Evansville on the 19th of April as UE welcomes Southern Illinois for a doubleheader. That weekend will feature a series against Indiana State and will also be Alumni Weekend on April 22.
Following a quick game at SIU on April 25, the Aces return home for the final home series of the season against Illinois State on April 29 and 30. The regular season concludes with a trip to face defending league champion Wichita State on May 6 and 7. Illinois State will host the MVC Championship in Normal, Ill. from May 11-13.
