Full 2011 Schedule

NORFOLK, Va. – Softball Interim Head Coach Heidi Cavallo announced the 2011 Norfolk State softball schedule, as the Spartans will play all but one game at home through the end of March.

NSU will also host two weekend-long tournaments in late February and early March before the MEAC season begins in early April.

“We have a really solid home schedule that will allow us to play at our competitive best as we continue to gel as a team,” said Cavallo. “With several key veterans returning along with a whole host of newcomers, playing at home will give us the chance to build team chemistry without having to leave Norfolk.”

The 2011 slate kicks off on Feb. 19 and 20 with a pair of doubleheaders. The Spartans face North Carolina Central on the 19th followed by Coppin State on the 20th at the NSU Softball Field.

The next weekend, NSU will host the Spartan Invitational, with George Washington, Iona, Fairleigh Dickinson, Monmouth and Morgan State joining the host Spartans. NSU will play Morgan State Feb. 25 in a night game before play begins Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. The teams will play six games on the 26th and five games on the 27th.

The Spartans will host Delaware State March 5 and 6 for a three-game series, then take their only road trip before April to James Madison for a doubleheader March 9.

On March 12 and 13, NSU will host the Spartan Classic, with St. Francis, Marist, UMES and Delaware. The teams will play five games each day beginning at 9 a.m.

The Spartans will continue their home stretch with a twinbill against Hampton on March 24, followed by two more doubleheaders against Savannah State March 28 and UMES March 30.

“Being at home for so many games in the early part of the season, we'll get to see the players at their best in that home environment,” said Cavallo. “It will give us a chance to see who will step up early on and who could make an impact for us once the MEAC season starts.”

The Spartans face a key road trip to begin April with a three-game series at Bethune-Cookman April 2-3 and at Florida A&M April 9-10.

NSU will host Longwood at the NSU Softball Field April 14 with a doubleheader. The players will get a break from action until facing UMES and Hampton on the road in back-to-back days April 27 and 28.

The last home games of the year will take place April 30 and May 1 against North Carolina A&T, while the regular season wraps up at North Carolina Central May 7-8. Both series include two games on the first day and a third game on Day 2.

Bethune-Cookman will serve as host of the 2011 MEAC Softball Tournament May 12-16 in Daytona Beach, Fla.