Bulldogs Face Challenging Schedule In 2008
December 11, 2007 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head coach Tom Cole, in conjunction with the Gardner-Webb athletics department, has released the 2008 softball schedule.
The Bulldogs arguably face their toughest schedule since moving to Division I as it will play in four major regular season tournaments before beginning Atlantic Sun Conference play. This season, GWU has just eight home dates on the schedule.
The Red and Black open the season at the Auburn University Tiger Invitational on Feb. 15. GWU will take on Furman at 10 a.m. in the season opener before tangling with the Thundering Herd of Marshall at 3 p.m. The following day, the Bulldogs face the host Auburn Tigers in the morning before a late-night affair with Evansville. On the final day of the tournament, GWU will face McNeese State before heading back to Boiling Springs.
On Feb. 20, the Bulldogs open their home season with a doubleheader against North Carolina A&T. The first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
Just two days later, GWU will be playing in Gainesville, Fla., at the Aquafina Invitational. On Feb. 22, the Bulldogs first play Notre Dame at 11 a.m., before taking on the host Gators of Florida at 3 p.m. The following day, GWU faces A-Sun rival North Florida at 10 a.m. The afternoon session will have the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds playing at 2:30 p.m. while the No. 2 and No. 3 teams play at 5 p.m. The bronze medal game will be played on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. with the gold medal game beginning at 12:30 p.m.
GWU will play nearby Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C., on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. before playing yet another tournament.
On March 1, the Bulldogs take on Bucknell before facing South Carolina in the University of South Carolina Tournament in Columbia, S.C. The following day, GWU will again play those same two teams.
The long road trip continues as the Bulldogs travel to Coastal Carolina on March 4 for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
After a week off over spring break, the Bulldogs will play host to Winston-Salem State in a doubleheader at Varsity Field beginning at 2 p.m. on March 12.
The next tournament the Bulldogs are slated to partake in is the Winthrop University Adidas Invitational Tournament. On March 14, GWU will face Memphis and Fordham before taking on Providence and UNC-Charlotte on March 15. The final day of the tournament will be the games for the championship.
On March 18, the Bulldogs will face Presbyterian in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. at Varsity Field in their last preparation for A-Sun play.
GWU begins its march towards on A-Sun Championship on March 21 in Johnson City, Tenn., as it takes on ETSU. It will be a quick turnaround as the Bulldogs play host to Lipscomb the following day at 2 p.m.
After making the short trek to Mercer on March 26 for a doubleheader, GWU welcomes league newcomer USC-Upstate to Varsity Field on March 30 at 1 p.m.
For the second straight year, the Bulldogs head to Jacksonville, Fla., to take on UNF and Jacksonville on Apr. 4-5 before returning home for a four-game home stand.
On Apr. 11, Cole's team will take on first-year A-Sun member Florida Gulf Coast at 2 p.m. The following day, the Bulldogs host Stetson in a rematch of last year's A-Sun title game beginning at 1 p.m. Prior to the first game of the afternoon, the seniors will be honored as part of Senior Day.
GWU steps out of conference on Tuesday, Apr. 15 when it travels to Appalachian State for a doubleheader.
From there, the Bulldogs travel to Nashville, Tenn., to take on Belmont on Apr. 19.
Last year, the Bulldogs and Kennesaw State Owls split two tightly contested games. This year, GWU plays host to the Owls on Apr. 24 at 2 p.m.
The Bulldogs are on the road for the final four regular season games, two of which come against A-Sun rival Campbell on Apr. 25. On Apr. 29, the Bulldogs travel to Lynchburg, Va., to take on Liberty.
A year ago, the Bulldogs won their first-ever A-Sun postseason game and advanced to the league championship. This year, the Bulldogs will look to win the title beginning May 8 in DeLand, Fla., with the championship game on May 10.
For a complete listing of the 2008 softball schedule, click here.
