Nov. 30, 2000
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Twelve games against five NCAA Tournament participants, a pair of in-season tournaments at WKU Softball Field and the inaugural Sun Belt Conference regular-season slate highlight the Western Kentucky University 2001 softball schedule released by head coach Leslie Phelan Thursday.
The Hilltoppers will participate in four regular-season tournaments, taking part in events at Southeast Missouri and Cal State-Sacramento, prior to the second Sun Belt Tournament, which will be held in Las Cruces, N.M., on May 11-13.
"This year's schedule has a different look," Phelan said. "The installation of lights at WKU Softball Field over the summer and the additional facility upgrades have enabled us to put together a more fan-friendly schedule. Our game times have improved as well as an increase in home contests, including two tournaments in March."
The season opens with five straight home games, beginning with a doubleheader against Tennessee State Thursday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. (CST). The Toppers will also host Ball State in a doubleheader and Evansville in a single game in February prior to the first tournament of the season, the Southeast Missouri Classic, which will take place March 3-4. Four of the six teams in the field posted winning records last year (including WKU) -- the Hilltoppers will open the event with NCAA Tournament participant Illinois-Chicago at 10 a.m.
Western returns home to face in-state rival Louisville in a twinbill March 7 prior to hosting the first tournament in the program's history, the WKU Spring Classic. Illinois State -- Missouri Valley Conference tournament champions and NCAA participant -- Marshall and Oakland will compete in a double-round robin event March 9-11. The Toppers then travel to compete in the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif., March 15-18, where pool play includes Purdue and California, a College World Series participant in 2000.
The Hilltoppers will play host to Belmont, Detroit and Eastern Kentucky March 23-24 in the Hilltopper Classic prior to opening the first Sun Belt regular-season series. New Mexico State -- host of the league's postseason championship -- visits WKU Softball Field for a four-game series March 30-April 1. Defending SBC Tournament champion Louisiana-Lafayette (April 21-22) and Middle Tennessee (May 4-5, regular-season finale), both of which played in last season's NCAA Tournament, also have conference series in Bowling Green.
WKU's Sun Belt road trips will be at Florida International April 7-8 and at Louisiana Tech April 27-28.
Western has just two non-conference doubleheaders at home in April -- against Belmont April 3 and defending Southeastern Conference East Division champion Kentucky April 25.
"We expect this spring's schedule to be much more competitive," said Phelan. "We will be playing a regular season Sun Belt schedule with five other quality teams, as well as attending tournaments in California and Missouri, not to mention several solid non-conference opponents."
For ticket information, contact the WKU Ticket Office in E.A. Diddle Arena at 270-745-5222 (local) or 1-800-5-BIG-RED (long distance). Master Card and VISA are welcome for WKU ticket purchases.
