WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State softball head coach Kristi Bredbenner has announced a 56-game schedule for the 2014 spring season.

The Shockers will play three teams that participated in the 64-team NCAA tournament this past spring, including Missouri Valley rival Northern Iowa. Also included in that mix is defending national champion Oklahoma. The Shockers will make the trip to Norman, Okla. April 8 for a doubleheader after a weekend series at Missouri Valley foe Evansville.  

Wichita State will open the season in Ruston, La. at the Lady Techster Invitational, Feb. 7-9. In Ruston, the Shockers will play games against Houston Baptist, UT-Martin, Louisiana Tech, Jackson State and Saint Louis.

The Shockers will then travel to San Antonio, Texas (Feb. 14-15) for the UT-San Antonio Classic where they will take on Rutgers, tournament host UT-San Antonio, Oklahoma State and Colorado State.

From there, Wichita State will travel to Tallahassee, Fla. (Feb. 21-23) to compete in the Unconquered Classic before heading to Denton, Texas where they will take part in the Best Western/Courtyard Classic (March 1-2).

Following their return from Denton, the Shockers will host five teams in the Shocker Softball Classic (March 6-9). Included in the field is Mountain West champions and WCWS participant San Diego State, UMKC, North Dakota, Iowa State and Northern Illinois.

The Shockers open Missouri Valley Conference play at home with a three-game series March 15-16 against newcomer Loyola before travelling to Omaha, Neb. to play non-conference teams, Nebraska-Omaha March 18 and former Missouri Valley Conference rival, Creighton March 19.

After the trip to Norman, Okla. April 8, the Shockers will finish out the rest of the schedule with conference play before the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Bloomington, Ill., hosted by Illinois State May 8-10.

You can view the rest of the 2014 schedule here.

-WICHITA STATE-