Softball Unveils 2022 Schedule

2022 Schedule

Softball 1/18/2022 11:30:00 AM

PEORIA, Ill. -- A pair of trips to Nashville, the first trip to the state of Alabama since 2015 and six of 14 home games against teams that made the 2021 NCAA Tournament highlight the 2022 Bradley Softball schedule unveiled by 14th-year head coach Amy Hayes Tuesday.

The Braves will play a total of 11 contests against NCAA Tournament teams, including a pair of outings at Missouri, which reached the NCAA Super Regionals last spring, during the 2022 campaign.

Bradley kicks off the 44th season of intercollegiate competition Feb. 11-13 in Phoenix, Ariz., at the Grand Canyon Kick Off Classic. After opening the season against Weber State Feb. 11, the Braves take on Kansas and tournament-host Grand Canyon in single games in addition to a pair of tilts with Northern Colorado during the opening weekend of action.

The first of two trips to Music City falls Feb. 18-20 with Bradley heading to Nashville, Tenn., to take part in the Roar City Invite. The three-day event features single games against Tennessee State and IUPUI sandwiched around Friday and Sunday outings against Miami (Ohio), which posted a 46-10 record and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2021.

The Braves will travel to the state of Alabama for the first time since playing in the 2015 San Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala., for Auburn's Plainsman Invite Feb. 25-27. The trip to Auburn, Ala., starts and ends with outings against Delaware State Friday and Sunday morning. The Braves close out Friday's action with a 7:30 p.m. game against Syracuse. A Saturday afternoon contest against tournament-host and 2021 NCAA Tournament participant Auburn is followed by a matchup against Louisiana-Monroe.

A trip Columbia, Mo., for the Mizzou Tournament is slated for March 4-6. The Braves will play a pair of games against Missouri, which finished with a 42-17 record last year and reached the NCAA Super Regionals. The weekend also includes a trio of games against NCAA Division I newcomer St. Thomas, which posted a 33-10 mark last spring and reached the NCAA Division III College World Series.

The final non-conference weekend has Bradley returning to Nashville, Tenn., for a tournament hosted by future Missouri Valley Conference opponent Belmont. Play at the Belmont Tournament begins March 11 with the Braves facing North Alabama and Akron. Bradley takes on Belmont the morning of March 12, with a rematch against North Alabama slated for that afternoon. The tournament concludes with a Sunday afternoon contest against Belmont, which will be joining the MVC for the 2022-23 school year.

The Braves open the MVC slate March 19 & 20 with a three-game home series against Loyola at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.

A nine-game Valley road swing that features series at Indiana State (March 26 & 27), Valparaiso (April 2 & 3) and Drake (April 9 & 10) leads into a season-long eight-game home stand.

The home stand kicks off with a three-game series against NCAA Tournament participant Southern Illinois (April 15 & 16). I-74 rival Illinois State comes to Peoria for a doubleheader April 19 and Bradley concludes the stretch with a three-game home series against Evansville (April 23 & 24).

The Braves close out the series with Illinois State April 27 with a single game in Normal, Ill., leading into the final road series of the year at Missouri State (April 30 & May 1).

Bradley wraps up the regular-season schedule at home, hosting Northern Iowa May 6 & 7 for a three-game series.

The Braves will make the trek back to Springfield, Mo., for the 2022 MVC Tournament May 11-14.

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