WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State softball head coach Kristi Bredbenner announced the 2019 softball schedule Friday afternoon, featuring 19 home games at Wilkins Stadium.
 
The Shockers will play 18 games against teams coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, starting this stretch with Prairie View A&M at the Maverick Invitational on February 24.
 
"The non-conference schedule is all about preparing the team for the American Athletic Conference schedule," Bredbenner said. "When you have four out of eight teams in The American getting into the NCAA Regionals and four that are knocking on the door you have to be prepared to go to battle every weekend. We will get tested each weekend with great competition and different elements."
 
Wichita State starts its season in Charleston, S.C., for the Cougar Classic Feb. 8-10. The Shockers will face Central Michigan and Virginia Tech the first day, where they defeated the Hokies 5-2 in the 2018 Texas Invitational. Two games against Pittsburgh and a matchup with host institution College of Charleston wrap up the opening tournament before traveling to Ruston, La. for the LA Tech Invitational Feb. 15-17.
 
Facing five teams in three days, the Shockers go up against Southeast Missouri State, Abilene Christian, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi Valley State and Fairleigh Dickinson. The Shockers continue their travels to the south, facing UT-Arlington, Abilene Christian and Prairie View A&M in the Maverick Invitational Feb. 22-24.
 
For the second consecutive season, the Shockers will face a team from their former conference, the Missouri Valley, when they travel to Carbondale, Ill., to face Southern Illinois in the Coach B Classic. The Shockers will also face Murray State, Saint Louis and Kentucky, a team that reached the Super Regionals in 2018.
 
After starting their season with 19 road games, the Shockers open their home slate with five straight home contests. Wichita State will face Oklahoma State on March 6 and have a three-game series with Nebraska March 9-10 before facing North Texas on March 13.
 
The Shockers wrap up their non-conference tournament stretch in Clearwater, Fla., March 15-17 where they will face three 2018 NCAA Tournament teams: North Dakota State, Minnesota and Monmouth. Wichita State will also face UT-Chattanooga and Towson.
 
"The 2019 American schedule keeps us at Wilkins Stadium a little more this year which we hope to use to our advantage," Bredbenner said. "Once you add in non-conference games versus Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Nebraska and North Texas we will get to play in front of the home crowd 21 times this year. With the success that the program has had recently we hope to pack the stands and give our fans something to cheer for and be proud of."
 
After a non-conference game against Kansas, Wichita State will open up American Athletic Conference play with a three-game home series against Houston March 22-23. The Shockers then travel to Stillwater, Okla. for another game against the Cowgirls before returning home for a series with UConn March 29-31.
 
Wichita State will make its first road trip in conference play to Orlando where they'll face UCF in a three-game series April 5-7 after a doubleheader with Missouri at Wilkins Stadium.
 
Avenging two NCAA Tournament losses a year ago, the Shockers make a return to Fayetteville, Ark., for a rematch against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Following a three-game series at Memphis April 12-14, the Shockers return home for conference play with a series with ECU April 18-20.
 
The Shockers face their final non-conference opponent, Oklahoma, April 24 at Wilkins Stadium. The Sooners are coming off a College World Series appearance and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the country.
 
Wichita State travels to Tulsa April 26-28 before finishing the regular season at home with USF May 3-5.
 
The American Athletic Conference Tournament will take place in Houston, hosted by the University of Houston, May 9-12.