Softball Sets Spring Schedule
October 17, 2002 | Softball
The Wisconsin softball team released its 2003 spring schedule Thursday afternoon. The Badgers open their eighth season with five road tournaments and kick off their home schedule versus Oakland on March 28 at 3 p.m.
For the seventh time in program history, Wisconsin begins its season in Tempe, Ariz. UW's first tournament of the 2003 season pits the Badgers against some of the top teams in the nation. Wisconsin will face Mississippi State, No. 17 Fresno State, No. 2 Arizona, No. 16 Texas and No. 24 Oregon State at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl Tournament. The rankings are according to the final 2002 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25.
After participating in the Fiesta Bowl tourney, Wisconsin will compete in the Triangle Classic, the Florida Atlantic Tournament and the Oklahoma Worth Invitational. UW returns to Hawaii for the Hawaii Invitational March 20-23. The Badgers last played in the Aloha State in 1999, going 1-2 at the Rainbow Classic.
After playing under the lights at Goodman Diamond for the first time last season, the Badgers have four scheduled night games. Wisconsin opens Big Ten play against Iowa on the road and reigning Big Ten champion Michigan is the Badgers' first Big Ten opponent at the Goodman Diamond. Illinois-Chicago and UW-Green Bay are non-conference schools included in the Badgers' non-tournament schedule.
The Badgers are coming off their second-straight NCAA tournament appearance and third-straight Big Ten tournament. UW finished the 2002 season, its seventh in program history, with a 31-20 record and 11-6 Big Ten mark. The Badgers' fourth place finish in league play was a program high.
