WASHINGTON - Trips to Florida and California along with matchups against Tennessee and UCLA and 17 home games highlight the 2023 Howard University softball schedule released by head coach Tori Tyson.
 
With many key returning players and some talented newcomers joining the program, the Lady Bison will play one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in the country. Howard will play contests against programs from 15 different conferences, 11 teams that finished with winning records, including conference rivals Morgan State and Norfolk State, and three teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament.
 
After experiencing the NCAA Tournament last season and falling short to Florida State and Mississippi State, the Bison are hungry to return. Tyson believes this schedule will test Howard and give it the best opportunity to do something special during a regional.
 
There's a method to Tyson's madness.
 
"You learn a lot when there are struggles," Tyson said. "I believe our schedule will be the toughest RPI of any HBCU, which is by design. We're going to learn a lot about ourselves in February and March and learn a lot about our team. Interested to see how my culture will be developed through adversity. We left regionals hungry for more. We believe that we were a couple innings from beating Mississippi State. We need to be in these in types of environments and strengthen our schedule."
 
Howard isn't easing into the 2023 campaign either.
 
Two of its first three contests are against NCAA Tournament opponents from last season. The season-opener is against Tennessee on Friday, Feb. 10 at the prestigious National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
 
The Lady Bison conclude that event by playing Southern, Prairie View A&M (another NCAA participant from 2022), Indiana and Louisville. The Hoosiers and Cardinals enjoyed winning records last season.
 
Things don't get any easier later in February as Howard competes in the Cavalier Classic hosted by the University of Virginia. Three of Howard's opponents: Virginia, George Washington, and Longwood, all finished with winning records. Howard will have games against St. John's and University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Overall, four of Howard's first nine contests are against schools from the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC.
 
Howard begins its home slate against Bowie State on Tuesday, Feb. 28. All of Howard's home games will be played at the Nationals Youth Academy.
 
The Bison then will spend a week across the country in California battling UC Riverside in a three-game series on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4. After contests against UC Santa Barbara and Cal Baptist on Sunday, March 5, Howard concludes the trip against UCLA on Tuesday, March 7. UC Riverside, Cal Baptist and UCLA all had winning records. Of course, UCLA competed in the Women's College World Series.
 
Howard begins defense of its MEAC Tournament title against Norfolk State on the road on Saturday, March 18. The MEAC Championship rematch against Morgan State takes place on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at Howard.
 
That series is part of Howard's longest homestand of the season, seven games. Howard begins by hosting Hofstra on Thursday, March 30 and ends it by welcoming North Carolina Central on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8. In addition to Morgan State and North Carolina Central, Howard will also host Delaware State in its season finale on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30.
 
The MEAC Tournament will take place in Norfolk, Virginia from Wednesday, May 10 through Saturday, May 13.
 
2023 KEY DATES
Friday, Feb. 10 vs. Tennessee in Clearwater, Florida (SEASON OPENER)
Tuesday, Feb. 28 vs. Bowie State (HOME OPENER)
Tuesday, March 7 at UCLA (Women's College World Series Participant)
Saturday, March 18 at Norfolk State (MEAC Opener)
Saturday, April 1 vs. Morgan State (MEAC Home Opener & Championship game rematch)
Sunday, April 30 vs. Delaware State (regular season finale)

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com