Jan. 6, 2010

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's softball team released its 53-game schedule for the 2010 season, announced head coach Megan Bryant on Wednesday afternoon. The schedule features games against 12 different conferences including the Atlantic-10, ACC, Big Ten and Big East. The Seawolves' will be challenged in 2010 as six of the teams they face finished within the top-100 in RPI last year.

"We have a very challenging schedule, but I think it will be a positive thing for our team," said Bryant. "We are playing quality opponents early in the year which will not only test our young team, but also give us an idea of the level we want to be playing at come conference play. This schedule should also keep us motivated to continue to improve everyday."

Stony Brook opens its season with a pair of tournaments in North Carolina, competing in the Charlotte First Pitch Classic between February 19-21 before traveling to the North Carolina State Wolfpack Challenge from March 5-7. The Seawolves will face both host schools along with Toledo, St. Francis (Pa.), Georgetown, Longwood and Coastal Carolina.

From March 12-14 SBU will compete at the University of South Florida Tournament, one of the largest and most challenging tournaments the Seawolves have ever participated in. Stony Brook will square off against Southern Illinois, Penn State, Kennesaw State and Ball State and have a rematch with Toledo.

The Seawolves' first home game of 2010 will be during the annual Stony Brook Invitational which starts March 19. SBU will host Yale and Quinnipiac on the first day, play Holy Cross on Saturday and then wrap the Invitational up with a game against Fairfield on March 21.

Prior to kicking off the America East schedule, SBU will host a doubleheader against Rutgers on March 24. Stony Brook will also host non-conference opponents Lafayette (March 31), Manhattan (April 14), Rider (April 17), Long Island (April 21) and Seton Hall (May 5). The Seawolves hit the road to play Iona (April 15), Rhode Island (April 18) and Sacred Heart (April 28), which qualified for the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Stony Brook's first two conference series are on the road as they play UMBC on the weekend of March 27 and then Boston University April 3-4. SBU then hosts Hartford (April 10-11) and Albany (April 24-25) before heading to Vestal, N.Y. for a series against Binghamton on the weekend of May 1. The Seawolves wrap-up America East play at home against Maine on May 8-9.