Softball Unveils 2015 Schedule
Nov 04 | Softball
Nov. 4, 2014 
PISCATAWY, N.J. (Nov. 4, 2014) - The Rutgers softball team has released its 2015 schedule for its inaugural season in the prestigious Big Ten Conference, it was announced by ninth-year head coach Jay Nelson. The Scarlet Knights' campaign is comprised of four road league trips and four conference matchups at the RU Softball Complex.
"This is going to be an exciting year for the Rutgers softball team," said Nelson. "The athletes are extremely excited to play within the Big Ten schedule. I feel that this team in particular is mentally ready for this test, as they are used to the shake up with new opponents having left the Big East and joining the American Athletic Conference last year."
Entering its third conference over a three-year span, Rutgers will face Big Ten opponents Michigan State, Michigan, Maryland and Wisconsin at home and travel to take on Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State and Penn State.
Michigan and Wisconsin, both of which will visit Piscataway in 2015, are the lone conference foes on the schedule to qualify for the 2014 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. The Badgers were eliminated at regionals, while the co-Big Ten regular season champion Wolverines advanced to Super Regionals before falling against Florida State.
In addition to Big Ten play, RU faces a challenging nonconference slate with four road tournaments, along with nine head-to-head nonconference matchups.
Rutgers kicks off the season in Santa Barbra, Calif., participating in the University of California- Santa Barbra (UCSB) Tournament from Friday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, Feb. 15. The Scarlet Knights will return to the Golden State two weeks later for a tournament at Fresno State (Feb. 27-29), which features host Fresno, Oregon State, UCSB and St. Mary's (California).
The Scarlet Knights continue on the road with a three-day trip to Albuquerque, N.M. for an invitational at New Mexico (March 6-8). The team will then travel to Clearwater, Fla. for a tournament hosted by USF, including Central Michigan, Iowa State, Toledo, UMass and UW - Green Bay.
On Friday, Mar. 20, Rutgers makes history in its first Big Ten game on the road at Indiana. The teams will compete in a three-game series at Andy Mohr Field.
Next up, RU participates in two weekday nonconference contests with Monmouth (Mar. 24) and Hofstra (Mar. 25).
The Scarlet Knights cross paths with their second conference foe, Purdue, in a three-game road series from Friday, Mar. 27 to Sunday, Mar. 29. After a doubleheader at Stony Brook (April 1), Rutgers returns to Piscataway for its home opener. RU welcomes Michigan State to the RU Softball Complex for a series starting on Friday, April 3.
Following the weekend at home, the Scarlet Knights hit the road again, traveling to St. John's (April 7) for another nonconference matchup. The team hosts Princeton the day after (April 8).
Michigan arrives "On the Banks" on Friday, April 10 for a three-game series before Rutgers makes a trip to former conference opponent and in-state rival Seton Hall on Tuesday, April 14. The team continues on the road with a doubleheader at Villanova (April 15).
The Scarlet Knights return to Big Ten play with a series at Ohio State (April 17-19), a doubleheader against Maryland at home (April 22), and a series at Penn State (April 24-26). The game against the Terps will be the only mid-week doubleheader against a conference opponent.
The squad splits the following week home and away. First the team makes a trip to LIU - Brooklyn on Tuesday, April 28 before wrapping up its nonconference slate with a home contest against Iona on Wednesday, April 29.
RU concludes its 2015 regular season campaign, hosting Wisconsin from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3.
The Big Ten Championship is set for Thursday, May 7 to Saturday May 9 in Columbus, Ohio. Based on the regular season results, the top twelve teams will qualify for the tournament.
In 2014, the Scarlet Knights registered one of the program's best seasons in recent years, recording an overall record of 28-19 and 9-9 in its first and only season as a member of the AAC. RU captured its first postseason win since 1998 and posted its highest winning percentage (.596) since 1995.
"We fared well in the AAC," Nelson reflected. "We won our first game in the conference tournament and played in the semi-finals. With that experience under our belt I think mentally we will be ready for the Big Ten transition."
NFCA Division I All-Mideast Region First Team members and senior outfielders Jackie Bates (Lincroft, N.J.) and Chandler Howard (Wilmington, Del.) will return to lead the Scarlet Knights. Bates led the team with a .390 batting average on 146 appearances at the plate. Howard finished next with a .389 average on 162 at-bats, including team-highs in runs (36) and hits (63). Overall, the squad returns 16 of its 19 players, including seven underclassmen.
"I urge everyone to continue to come out and support us as we face all new opponents in our first year in the Big Ten," said Nelson.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers softball, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball). The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB).
- RU-
Wednesday, May 27
Sunday, May 03
Monday, April 27
Monday, April 27
