Softball Releases 2016 Schedule
11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2016 Schedule
MACON, GA. – Mercer University head softball coach James DeFeo announced the Bears' 2016 schedule today, as the team's spring slate will feature 18 Southern Conference contests, marquee match-ups against Alabama and Georgia Tech as well as six non-conference tournaments.
Mercer enters its second season in the Southern Conference and the fifth campaign under the direction of DeFeo, who took the program to the brink of a league title in its inaugural season in the conference. Mercer compiled a 37-22 overall record and a 10-7 mark in the league in 2015, which included a series victory over SoCon champion Chattanooga at Sikes Field. The Bears carried that success to the 2015 SoCon Championship game, using three shutout victories to come within two runs of a NCAA Tournament appearance.
"We have another challenging schedule this season," said DeFeo. "We host three very strong programs in our opening tournament of the year, before facing one of the top teams in the SEC and the country, Alabama, the following weekend. Our schedule will prepare us for the rigors of SoCon play and lay the foundation of accomplishing our goal of advancing to NCAA Regional play and beyond."
Once again, Mercer kicks off the season at its own Mercer Invitational, as it welcomes a talented field to Macon for a three-day tournament. The Bears open the weekend against Atlantic 10 member, St. Bonaventure, before taking on Mid-American Conference power Central Michigan and 2015 NCAA Tournament participant Pittsburgh.
The following weekend, Mercer will travel up I-75 to Atlanta to compete in Georgia State's Panther Invitational Tournament, which opens up a 13-game stretch away from home. The Bears match-up against national power Alabama as well as Maryland, Miami (Ohio) and host, Georgia State, in their opening road tournament, before travelling to Savannah State for a Wednesday doubleheader on Feb. 24.
The trip continues the following weekend at the Troy Trojan Classic, where Mercer will clash with Austin Peay, Dayton, Missouri State and Troy. Mercer wraps up the road swing and moves into March with a showdown against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
The Bears return to Sikes Field for the Black and Orange Challenge on Mar. 4-6, as they welcome Boston College, Fordham and Iowa State to town for a three-day event. A trip to Florida A&M for a doubleheader and back-to-back weekends of tournament play with the Florida Atlantic Invitational Tournament and the Mercer Bears Classic set the stage for the team's conference opener, a three-game series against Samford on Mar. 25-26 at Sikes Field.
Mercer gets one last break from conference play with doubleheaders at Alabama State and Virginia Tech, before starting the bulk of its SoCon schedule with a series at UNC-Greensboro. The rest of the journey through the SoCon includes trips to Chattanooga and Western Carolina as well as homestands against ETSU and Furman.
The Bears will host at least 21 games at Sikes Field this season, a place where they have compiled a 41-13 record over the past two years. Mercer will also have 21 true road games and 12 neutral-site contests leading up to the Southern Conference Tournament on May 11-14.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
Be sure to follow @MercerUSoftball on Twitter or visit the team's official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MUSoftball for all things Mercer Softball. In addition, stay tuned to MercerBears.com as the season approaches for updated broadcast information.
