2018 Schedule

HAMPTON, Va. -- The Hampton University softball team announced its 2018 schedule on Thursday facing six teams that made post-season action in 2017, including a regular-season trip to the NCAA Women's College World Series Runner-ups the University of Florida.

"I wanted to challenge our team this year and a pair of games at NCAA runner-up Florida is as good as it can get," said second-year Hampton head coach Angie Nicholson.  "Facing North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and six schools that made post-season action will definitely prepare us for our final MEAC season."

The Lady Pirates (23-22 in 2017) open the weekend of Feb. 9-11 in Boiling Springs, NC at the Gardner Webb Tournament where they'll face Youngstown State, Gardner-Webb and Western Kentucky.   The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers made the inaugural National Invitational Softball Championship going 31-31 and Hampton will face them each day of the event.

After a week off, Hampton will be at the HU Softball Stadium for 22 of the next 25 games over a month span.   Hampton will host three tournaments starting with the Hampton Classic on Feb. 23-25 hosting Lafayette, Buffalo and Youngstown State.

Following a single game at NCAA Tournament participant North Carolina on Feb. 28, Hampton will host the Pirate Invitational on March 2-4 with Rutgers, North Dakota and Maryland Eastern Shore.

A home doubleheader with Virginia on March 6 will proceed the final tournament as Hampton hosts the Blue & White Classic on March 9-11 with Nebraska-Omaha, Albany and LaSalle.  Albany made the NCAA Tournament last year with a 27-18 record.

Hampton visits Radford on March 14 before heading into their final run through the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.  They'll host Morgan State (March 17-18), Howard (March 24-25) and Maryland Eastern Shore (Apr. 14-15) for home MEAC Northern Division games.  Hampton will visit Delaware State (April 7-8), Coppin State (Apr. 21-22) and Norfolk State (April 28-29) for their road games.

A few non-conference games are mixed into the final portion of the schedule, highlighted by a trip to Gainesville, Florida for the Florida Gator Round Robin.  Hampton will face the Lady Gators on March 30 at 4pm and then take on Jacksonville and Florida on March 31 at 11 am and 1 pm respectively.

Hampton has contests against future conference members of the Big South set for a single game at Longwood (Apr. 3), a home doubleheader with Liberty (Apr. 24) to go with the earlier game at Radford and the Gardner-Webb Tournament.  Longwood participated in the NCAA Tournament last year, while Liberty won the National Invitational Softball Championship.

The last home game of the season is set for April 25 when they tangle with Atlantic 10 member George Washington for a doubleheader starting at 2.  Hampton will close the regular season at Atlantic Coast Conference member Virginia Tech on May 2 starting at 3 pm.

The 2018 MEAC Tournament will be held in Daytona Beach, Fla. on May 10-12.

For more information on Hampton University softball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.