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Softball Announces 2009 Schedule
Jan. 8, 2009
Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team and head coach Deb Smith announced their 2009 schedule on Thursday. The season is highlighted with contests against major conferences such as the ACC, Big East, Conference USA, Atlantic 10 and the Mid-American (MAC). The schedule also features seven home dates this season. The Black Bears start the season on Feb. 6-8 at the UT-Chattanooga Challenge in Chattanooga, Tenn. where they will take on Virginia Tech and Chattanooga on the 6th. The 7th will feature another doubleheader as Maine faces Campbell and Tennessee Tech, before closing out the tournament versus Troy on the 8th. On Feb. 20-22, Maine will travel to Conway, S.C. to take part in the Coastal Carolina Kickin Chickin Classic. The Black Bears open with both Western Carolina and Virginia Tech on the 20th, followed by Coastal Carolina on the 21st and Appalachian St. on the 22nd. The Black Bears will then travel south to Orlando, Fla. for the UCF Tournament on Feb. 27-March 1. Maine will play both Eastern Michigan University and Syracuse on the 27th, Villanova and UCF on the 28th and finish with Western Michigan on the 1st. After the tournament, the Black Bears will travel to Tampa, Fla. for doubleheader against the University of South Florida on March 3. From March 5-14, Maine will take part in a series of Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. The Black Bears will battle Holy Cross and Niagara on the 5th and IPFW and Detroit-Mercy on the 6th. After a day off, Maine with take part in another doubleheader on the 8th versus Youngstown State and Yale. On the 10th, the Black Bears play Pennsylvania and Bryant, followed by Sacred Heart and SIU-Edwardsville on the 11th. Maine will close out the Rebel Spring Games with two more doubleheaders versus LaSalle and Robert Morris on the 13th and Wagner and Wisconsin-Green Bay on the 14th. After leaving Kissimmee, the Black Bears will have a week off before traveling to North Smithfield, R.I. to face Boston College (March 21), followed by a doubleheader with Bryant (March 22).
Maine begins conference play on March 28-29 with a three-game set at UMBC. The first homestand will start on April 4, as the Black Bears play host to Stony Brook (April 4-5) for a three-game series before welcoming Boston University (April 8) for a doubleheader. Maine will hit the road again on April 11-12 for a three-game set at Binghamton, followed by a second three-game homestand against Hartford (April 18-19). The Black Bears then make a one-game trip to Boston University (April 22). The final home series will take place on April 25-26 when Maine faces Albany for three games before closing out regular season play with a three-game set at Vermont (May 2-3). The America East Championship will be held from May 7-9 at the site of the conference's regular season champion. -U-M- |
