Saint Louis head softball coach Christy Connoyer has announced the Billikens’ 2018 schedule. The slate includes 20 home games at the Billiken Sports Center, a 2017 Women’s College World Series participant and five other teams that qualified for last season’s NCAA tournament.
SLU opens the season Feb. 8 at Bradley’s LSSC Dome Tournament in Peoria, Illinois, where one of its opponents is Washington of the Pac-12 Conference. The Huskies were 50-14 and advanced to the WCWS a year ago.
Three of the other five 2017 NCAA tournament teams on the Billikens’ schedule come to St. Louis. SLU hosts a single game vs. Southern Illinois March 21, a doubleheader vs. Arkansas of the Southeastern Conference April 10, and a three-game series vs. defending Atlantic 10 Conference champion Fordham April 21-22. The Bills play Louisiana Tech and SEC opponent Ole Miss in tournaments hosted by those teams.
In addition to Fordham, Saint Louis welcomes Saint Joseph’s (March 24-25), St. Bonaventure (April 7-8) and George Washington (May 5-6) to the Billiken Sports Center for three-game A-10 series. Intrastate rivals Missouri State (March 28, single game) and Southeast Missouri State (April 25, doubleheader) also come to town. The home opener is March 20 vs. Murray State (single game).
The Billikens play Big 12 Conference foe Kansas at the Jayhawks’ Rock Chalk Challenge, where they also will square off with intrastate opponent Kansas City. Another rival, SIUE, hosts Saint Louis in an April 17 single game.
“I’m looking forward to the spring to continue strengthening the development of our 2018 squad,” Connoyer said. “The early spring tournaments give us a national challenge as we play teams from quality conferences around all regions of the country. Ultimately, we use these games to prepare for the A-10 season.
“We have an incredible home schedule this year, with 20 games on the docket,” Connoyer said. “We’re excited to play in front of a supportive Billiken crowd for a significant number of contests.
“We’ve been preparing for competition since we started classes in August,” Connoyer said. “Since then, in all facets of the game, we have improved our skill level as well as our team strategies. We’re eager to put our talents to the test.”
2018 SAINT LOUIS SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
Thu., Feb. 8 • at Bradley • Peoria, Ill. • 6 pm
Fri., Feb. 9 • Miami (Ohio) • Peoria, Ill. • 9 am
Fri., Feb. 9 • Washington • Peoria, Ill. • 11:30 am
Sun., Feb. 11 • Western Illinois • Peoria, Ill. • 11:30 am
Sun., Feb. 11 • Miami (Ohio) • Peoria, Ill. • 2 pm
Fri., Feb. 23 • at Louisiana Tech • Ruston, La. • 5 pm
Fri., Feb. 23 • Alcorn State • Ruston, La. • 7 pm
Sat., Feb. 24 • Massachusetts-Lowell • Ruston, La. • 11 am
Sat., Feb. 24 • South Dakota • Ruston, La. • 3 pm
Sun., Feb. 25 • Missouri State • Ruston, La. • 11 am
Fri., March 2 • Chattanooga • Oxford, Miss. • 10 am
Fri., March 2 • Southern Mississippi • Oxford, Miss. • 3 pm
Sat., March 3 • at Mississippi • Oxford, Miss. • 3 pm
Sun., March 4 • Chattanooga • Oxford, Miss. • 9 am
Sun., March 4 • UT Martin • Oxford, Miss. • 11:30 am
Fri., March 9 • Northern Illinois • Richmond, Ky. • 9 am
Fri., March 9 • Western Carolina • Richmond, Ky. • 4:30 pm
Sat., March 10 • Akron • Richmond, Ky. • 9 am
Sat., March 10 • at Eastern Kentucky • Richmond, Ky. • 11:30 am
Sun., March 11 • Akron • Richmond, Ky. • 8:30 am
Fri., March 16 • Western Illinois • Lawrence, Kan. • 2 pm
Fri., March 16 • Kansas City • Lawrence, Kan. • 7 pm
Sat., March 17 • at Kansas • Lawrence, Kan. • 4:30 pm
Sun., March 18 • Murray State • Lawrence, Kan. • 9 am
Sun., March 18 • Northern Colorado • Lawrence, Kan. • 11:30 am
Tue., March 20 • Murray State • Billiken Sports Center • 4 pm
Wed., March 21 • Southern Illinois • Billiken Sports Center • 3 pm
Sat., March 24 • Saint Joseph’s (DH)* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Sun., March 25 • Saint Joseph’s* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Wed., March 28 • Missouri State • Billiken Sports Center • 4 pm
Fri., March 30 • at George Mason (DH)* • Fairfax, Va. • 11 am
Sat., March 31 • at George Mason* • Fairfax, Va. • 11 am
Wed., April 4 • at Dayton (DH)* • Dayton, Ohio • 1 pm
Sat., April 7 • St. Bonaventure (DH)* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Sun., April 8 • St. Bonaventure* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Tue., April 10 • Arkansas (DH) • Billiken Sports Center • TBA
Sat., April 14 • at Massachusetts (DH)* • Amherst, Mass. • 11 am
Sun., April 15 • at Massachusetts* • Amherst, Mass. • 11 am
Tue., April 17 • at SIUE • Edwardsville, Ill. • 4 pm
Sat., April 21 • Fordham (DH)* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Sun., April 22 • Fordham* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Wed., April 25 • Southeast Missouri State (DH) • Billiken Sports Center • 4 pm
Sat., April 28 • at La Salle (DH)* • Philadelphia, Pa. • 11 am
Sun., April 29 • at La Salle* • Philadelphia, Pa. • 11 am
Wed., May 2 • Indiana State • Billiken Sports Center • 5 pm
Sat., May 5 • George Washington (DH)* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Sun., May 6 • George Washington* • Billiken Sports Center • Noon
Wed.-Sat., May 9-12 • Atlantic 10 Conference Championship • Bronx, N.Y. • TBA
Fri.-Sun., May 18-20 • NCAA Regional • TBA • TBA
Fri.-Sun., May 25-27 • NCAA Super Regional • TBA • TBA
Thu.-Wed., May 31-June 6 • Women’s College World Series • Oklahoma City, Okla. • TBA
*Atlantic 10 Conference game
