Tar Heels Release 2020 Softball Schedule

CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina head softball coach Donna J. Papa announced the Tar Heels spring 2020 schedule, highlighted by the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and four ACC series at Anderson Stadium.

The Tar Heels open 2020 with nine-straight games against 2019 NCAA Tournament teams, including Women's College World Series participant, Alabama. After tournament play, the Tar Heels face seven teams who reached the 2019 NCAA tournament, including Super Regional teams, JMU at Anderson Stadium and Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. – where Carolina ended the 2019 season.

North Carolina begins the season at the FSU Tournament in Tallahassee, Florida. UNC faces a trio of NCAA tournament teams in Detroit Mercy, Alabama and Florida State during opening weekend at JoAnne Graf Field.

"We always want to start the season at a competitive tournament," Papa said. "I like the competition. It will be really exciting to start against three NCAA tournament teams, including a conference opponent like Florida State who we won't see during the season. It will help us prepare for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge to kick off our home season against Michigan and Wisconsin who are some of the Big Ten's best. We'll be tested right out of the gate, but I look forward to that. You get to see what you're working with and where you can go moving forward on the season."

Carolina returns home to host the ACC/Big Ten Challenge for the fourth year Feb. 14-16. The Tar Heels welcome back Louisville and Michigan for the second year in a row and Wisconsin for the second time in three seasons.

UNC hosts NCCU and JMU on Feb. 18 and 20, respectively, before traveling to UNCG in Greensboro, N.C. The Tar Heels face Purdue, Fairfield and host, UNCG during the three-day tournament, Feb. 21-23. Carolina welcomes Elon to Anderson Stadium Feb. 26 to kick off an eight-game home-stand.

North Carolina opens Atlantic Coast Conference play at home vs. Pittsburgh Feb. 28-Mar. 1 and Mar. 6-8 vs. Syracuse with a midweek game vs. UNCW on Mar. 4.

"Being able to start conference play at home is definitely an advantage," Papa said. "Yes, it's a week earlier than in previous years, but we will prepare like we do any opponent."

The Tar Heels kick off a 10-game roadtrip on Mar. 10, featuring three NCAA tournament teams and a pair ACC series. UNC opens the trip at Tennessee and Lipscomb on Mar. 10 and 11, respectively. Carolina travels to Virginia (Mar. 13-15), Charlotte (Mar. 17) and Boston College (Mar. 20-22) before wrapping up the trip at regional foe, South Carolina on Mar. 25.

"I love to play great competition," Papa said. "Being able to play at a potential host site and play Tennessee with how we played last year, I think that will be great for our team. Lipscomb is another consistent regional team. Every midweek will be a test. It will give us challenges throughout the season to help us prepare and stay ready for ACC weekends."

UNC returns home to host Virginia Tech at Anderson Stadium Mar. 27-29 before hitting the road for a weekend series at Boise State Apr. 3-5 at Dona Larsen Park in Boise, Idaho.

"This year with expanding to 13 teams in the ACC," Papa said, "we have a bye-weekend so we can go somewhere like Boise State. It will be a great trip and great test against a team who has been in the post season consistently."

Carolina travels to Georgia Tech (Apr. 9-11) and NC State (Apr. 17-19) for back-to-back road ACC series. UNC hosts UNCG (Apr. 7), ECU (Apr. 14) and Longwood (Apr. 22) for midweek matchups at Anderson Stadium.

The Tar Heels wrap up the regular season at home vs. Duke Apr. 24-26. Louisville hosts the 2020 ACC Tournament May 6-9 at Ulmer Stadium. The 2020 NCAA Regionals take place May 14-17. Super Regionals are May 21-24 and the Women's College World Series takes place May 28 through June 3 at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Visit GoHeels.com for the complete schedule.

Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Related Videos