Softball to Face Another Challenging Slate in 2017

MUNCIE, Ind. - - Top-level competition will once again be a staple on the Ball State softball team's schedule in 2017, as the Cardinals play 22 games versus teams ranked in the top 100 of the final 2016 NCAA RPI rankings. Ten of the games will be versus 2016 NCAA Regional participants, including a pair of super regional runner-ups.

Ball State opens the 2017 season Feb. 10 versus a pair of NCAA RPI top 100 opponents in DePaul and Southern Miss at the 31st Annual Louisiana Classic hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette. The Cardinals take on the NCAA Norman Super Regional runner-up and tournament host Ragin' Cajuns the second day of the event, along with another game against Southern Miss. Ball State closes the three-day tournament against a tough Iowa State squad.

The second weekend of action sees the Cardinals travel to Tucson, Ariz., for the Wildcat Invitational. Ball State opens the event with games versus Drake and the NCAA Auburn Super Regional runner-up and tournament host Arizona. The Cardinals also play games against Abilene Christian, North Dakota State and Boston College over the final two days of the tournament.

On the third weekend of play, the Cardinals take their first of two trips to the state of Florida, for the Citrus Classic I at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. Over its two-day stint at the complex, Ball State faces Oakland, Lehigh, Georgia Southern and Liberty.

After a brief return trip to Muncie, the Cardinals embark on their annual spring break trip for 13 more games in Florida. Ball State opens the trip March 3-5 at the Under Armor Invitational hosted by NCAA regional participant USF. Teams featured in the tournament include the host Bulls, Hartford, Pennsylvania, Towson and St. Bonaventure.

After traveling to Fort Myers for mid-week games against Florida International (March 7) , FGCU (March7) and Holy Cross (March 8), the Cardinals close spring break March 9-11 in Boca Raton for the FAU Parent's Weekend Tournament. Ball State bookends the tournament with games versus NCAA regional participants in FAU and Fordham, while also playing LIU-Brooklyn, Brown and Rutgers.

The Cardinals close non-conference tournament action March 18-19 at the SIUE Tournament, where it battles SIUE, in-state rival Butler and Northern Kentucky.

Ball State plays its first home game of the season March 22, when Butler travels up I-69 to visit the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. The Cardinals travel to Indiana State March 29 for its final non-conference game of the year.

Like last season, the 2017 Mid-American Conference schedule sees teams play seven three-game weekend series with a single game Friday and a doubleheader Saturday. Teams also play their former travel partner in a three-game mid-week series which features a doubleheader one week and a single game in another.

Ball State hosts Miami (March 31-April 2), Eastern Michigan (April 14-15) and Toledo (April 21-22) in conference weekend action, while traveling to Buffalo (March 24-25), Ohio (April 7-8), Central Michigan (April 28-29) and Western Michigan (May 5-6). Ball State's split series will be versus Northern Illinois, with the team hosting the Huskies for an April 4 doubleheader and traveling to DeKalb for a single game April 12.

The 2017 MAC Softball Tournament returns to Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, this season and runs May 10-13. The winner of the tournament earns the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Championship which starts with regional action May 19-21 on 16 campus sites.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.

- BallStateSports.com –

Ball State University Athletics

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