WICHITA, Kan.- A total of five NCAA Tournament participants, a Super Regional participant, a Women's College World Series participant and 15 home games highlight an exciting and challenging 2010 Wichita State softball schedule, fifth-year head coach Mike Perniciaro announced today.

“This year's schedule brings about some quality teams that will test us early,” said Perniciaro. “The bulk of our team is returning from last year and we gained valuable experience throughout the 2009 season. That familiarity with the demands of a tough scheudle will pay dividends this season. Our preseason tournaments will be important for us to form our identity and prepare us for the Valley schedule.”

The Shockers open up the season Feb. 12-14, in Shreveport, La., at the Centenary College Tournament featuring Nicholls State, Memphis, Centenary College, Southern and Houston Baptist. From there the Shockers will spend the rest of the month of February in Texas. WSU will open the QTI/Getterman Classic against NCAA Tournament participant Tulsa on Feb. 19. Host Baylor, Central Arkansas, Texas-Arlington, and UTEP round out the field. WSU will get a preview of the Mavericks in Waco, Texas, before squaring off with UTA twice at the UTA Tournament, Feb. 26-28, before heading to Lubbock, Texas, for games against Texas Tech and Boise State.

After a doubleheader against UMKC in Kansas City, Mo., on March 10, the Shockers open their home schedule to face Rutgers for the first time in school history on March 15. WSU will then travel to Columbia, Mo., and renew its series with a doubleheader against 2009 WCWS participant Missouri on March 17. Northern Iowa visits Wilkins Stadium March 20-21, to open MVC play and begin a five-game homestand that includes games against NCAA Tournament participant Oklahoma State and Missouri State.

WSU will get its first MVC road test at Illinois State, March 27-28, to start a stretch where the Shockers will play 14 of 17 games on the road. The Shockers travel to Des Moines, Iowa, site of the 2010 State Farm MVC Tournament, for a weekend series with Drake, April 2-3, before heading to Tulsa, Okla., to face the Golden Hurricane in a doubleheader on April 6.

The Shockers host 2009 MVC regular-season champion Creighton, April 10-11, before hitting the road again with a doubleheader at Missouri State on April 14, a weekend series at Evansville, April 17-18, and a game in Stillwater, Okla., at Oklahoma State on April 20. WSU will hope to repeat its 2008 performance against Southern Illinois when the Salukis come to Wilkins Stadium for a weekend series, April 24-25. That season the Shockers became the first MVC team to sweep SIU in a three-game series with three shutout wins.

WSU will get a look at interstate rival Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., on April 28 with a doubleheader before returning for the final home games of the season against 2009 MVC Tournament winner and NCAA Tournament participant Bradley, May 1-2. The Bradley series will mark the final home games for seniors Lauren Coleman, Kara L'Huillier and Lindsie Mitts. From there the regular-season concludes with a weekend series at Indiana State, May 8-9, followed by the 2010 State Farm MVC Tournament, May 13-15.