The Kentucky softball team will open its 2007 season this weekend, Feb. 9-11, at the Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas. Third-year head coach Eileen Schmidt and the Wildcats will play five games during the three-day tournament hosted by Baylor University.
UK is 3-7 in season opening games after defeating No. 13 Washington by a final of 6-1 last year in Las Vegas. The Wildcats return 11 players from the 2006 squad that finished with an overall record of 21-36 and a 4-26 mark in Southeastern Conference play.
The Wildcats will face Stephen F. Austin in the season opener for both teams on Friday, Feb. 9, in a 12:45 pm ET start. This marks the fourth meeting between the two schools and the first since 2001. The Lady Jacks won that matchup in Arlington, Texas, by a final of 4-2 lead 2-1 in the all-time series.
Kentucky will face Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Friday afternoon with the first pitch set for 3 pm ET. This is the first meeting between the two schools. The Islanders return all nine starters from a team that finished the 2006 season with a 10-35 overall record and finished sixth in the Southland Conference standings.
The tournament continues on Saturday when the Wildcats face Southern Mississippi at 10:30 am ET. The Golden Eagles lead 2-0 in the all-time series after taking the last meeting, Feb. 12, 2000, by a final score of 4-1. The only other meeting took place during the 1999 season in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Wildcats will then play a pair of games against No. 18 Baylor. The first showdown comes Saturday night at 5:15 pm, followed by a Sunday morning contest set to begin at 10 am. The Lady Bears lead 3-0 in the all-time series. Baylor returns six starters from a team that went 38-22 last season and advanced to the NCAA Regional.
?I think every player and coach has said that it?s about time we play someone else and we do it outside. We have been beating up on each other for three weeks and have been inside on turf the whole time,? said Schmidt. ?It has definitely been a tough preseason, but there is nothing you can do about it. You can only prepare the best you can and, at this point, I think we are. We really hoped to get outside one time this week but it is just not happening. We will be a little outdoor rusty because your feet don’t move as quick in dirt and grass, balls don’t bounce the same, and dimensions and depths are distorted.
?The pitchers have picked up some bad habits from the turf so we are really going to have to be aware of what we are doing as a team and individually,? added Schmidt. ?On a good note, throwing and catching doesn’t change. I think if we can go into the tournament and play solid and do the little things then we will be fine. At this point, I think this group is so excited to see where we are and get out on a field that they would go just about anywhere.?
There will be live stats for all of Kentucky?s games this weekend, while free, streaming audio will be available for the Wildcats? two matchups against Baylor. All the links to keep up with the Cats can be found at www.UKAthletics.com.
