11/12/2009 6:59:16 PM
JACKSON - A slate of 18 games on the campus of Millsaps College, featuring 10 different opponents, highlights a challenge-filled 40-game softball schedule announced today by head coach and the SCAC's all-time winningest coach Roland Rodriguez.
Millsaps launches its 11th season of softball on Friday, Feb. 12 in Holly Springs, Miss., making the road trip up I-55 to face off with Rust College in a doubleheader at Noon. The non-conference matchup opens a stretch of 20 consecutive out of conference games, which feature two Division II opponents, six members from the American Southwest Conference and one Great South Athletic Conference member in Huntingdon College.
The Majors' non-conference schedule continues a trend the past three seasons under Rodriguez of tough early season games in order to prepare for SCAC play, which will be even more difficult this year after switching from the East to the West Division. Millsaps' 2010 non-conference opponents posted a .646 win percentage last season, with 8 of 11 opponents winning 20 or more games.
Millsaps' first three home doubleheaders feature some of the nation's best, welcoming Division II West Alabama (42-17) to Jackson on Feb. 13 and 2008 World Series participant Lousiana College (38-9) to Jackson on Feb. 20. The Wildcats have finished in the NFCA Top 18 the past five seasons, including No. 14 last year, and will be a preseason Top 10 team again this year.
The Majors begin their 16-game SCAC schedule March 19-20 in San Antonio, Texas, with a four-game series at Trinity University. Millsaps' 8-game home SCAC slate for 2010 includes series against Southwestern University (March 27-28) and Austin College (April 10-11), with the final doubleheader against the 'Roos slated for Senior Day.
Millsaps' non-conference home schedule also includes contests against Division II Christian Brothers, Huntingdon College, Mississippi College and Rust College.
Ten of Millsaps' opponents in 2010 are newcomers to the schedule, including Hardin-Simmons, East Texas Baptist University, Concordia (Texas) and Howard Payne at the LeTourneau Spring Classic. The Majors also add SCAC West members Hendrix, Southwestern, Trinity and Austin College with the change in divisions.
The Majors close out their regular season schedule in Conway, Ark., on April 17-18 with a four-game series against Hendrix College.
The 2010 SCAC Sofball Tournament is set for April 23-25 at Hendrix College, while the NCAA softball tournament begins competition May 13 at eight regional sites.