Press release written by Athletics Operations Manager Rich Groff
NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University softball team will open its 2018 season with a challenging schedule and two annual trips south, as head coach Mike Shehorn has announced its spring schedule.
The Wildcats will set their sights on winning another CACC Championship as well as reaching a fifth consecutive NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament and beyond. The 2018 schedule features 13 games (eight teams) against teams that competed in last seasons' Regional Tournaments, including two that played for the NCAA Division II National Championship and the defending National Champions.
As the Wildcats set their sights on another postseason run in May, the season will begin in February.
The 2018 campaign will once again get underway with the annual trip to the Snowbird Softball Freeze Out in Myrtle Beach over the weekend of February 16-18. The Wildcats will kick off the season with games against East Regional Tournament participant Merrimack and Le Moyne on Friday, February 16. The Wildcats will also play Atlantic Region Kutztown, as well as Slippery Rock, Lock Haven, and East Stroudsburg during the opening weekend in South Carolina.
After returning to Delaware, the Wildcats will head out to their annual trip to Clermont, Florida, to play games at the National Training Center. The first games in the Sunshine State are schedule for Monday, March 6.
During their trip to Florida, the team will play Midwest Regional participant Grand Valley State, St. Cloud State, Atlantic Region Champion West Virginia Wesleyan, Le Moyne College, Cedarville University, Central Regional Champion and 2017 NCAA Division II National Champions Minnesota State Mankato, Mercyhurst, and Bridgeport all in single games.
Once home, the Wildcats will travel to Shippensburg on Friday, March 16, before opening up their CACC season at home against Bloomfield on Saturday, March 17, at Asbury Field. The team will host East Region top seed Adelphi before heading to Chestnut Hill and West Chester before heading back home to play Concordia and LIU Post. The Wildcats will head to Nyack on Wednesday, March 28, to close out the month of March.
The month of April finds the Wildcats hosting games against CACC opponents Holy Family, USciences, Felician, and Post while hosting a nonconference opponent and Atlantic Regional participant Kutztown. Away games will include trips to Goldey-Beacom, defending CACC Champions Caldwell, Dominican, Jefferson, and Georgian Court. This year's Senior Day will be on Saturday, April 28 against Post University.
The CACC Tournament will once again be hosted by Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey, with the top eight teams from the regular season competing to take the trophy away from the Wildcats. The tournament starts May 3 with a champion to be crowned on Saturday, May 5.
For the full 2018 softball schedule, please click here.