WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State head softball coach Kristi Bredbenner unveiled her team's 2022 spring schedule Tuesday morning.

Bredbenner enters her 11th season at the helm of the softball program, coming on the heels of arguably the best season in program history in 2021. Wichita State returns its first All-American in school history in Sydney McKinney, along with position starters Addison Barnard and Neleigh Herring; as well as pitchers Erin McDonald and Caitlin Bingham.

There will be big shoes to fill, having lost Bailey Lange, Ryleigh Buck, Madison Perrigan, Kaylee Huecker and Bailee Nickerson to graduation. All were multiple year starters and names littered throughout the record books.

The Shockers will compete in five early season tournaments, which include the Bearkat Classic (Feb. 11-13), Razorback Invitational (Feb. 17-19), Niner Invitational (Feb. 25-27), Jayhawk Invitational (March 11-13) and OSU Mizuno Classic (March 18-19).

Wichita State will face seven teams (Arkansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, South Florida, South Dakota State, UCF) who participated in the 2021 NCAA Softball Tournament, including defending National Champion Oklahoma on March 29 in Norman.

Play opens at the Bearkat Classic in Huntsville, Texas with games against Dayton, Sam Houston State, South Dakota and Houston Baptist. The following weekend, Wichita State heads to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Razorback Invitational. There, the Shockers will see Arkansas, Illinois, Longwood and Western Illinois.

Wichita State will get its first taste of future American opponent, Charlotte, when the Shockers compete in the Niner Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. Joining the Niners and Shockers will be a familiar foe in Northern Iowa and Minnesota.

In between the Niner Invitational and Jayhawk Invitational, the Shockers travel to Lincoln, Neb., to face Nebraska and South Dakota State. Wichita State will play both teams twice.

Rounding out tournament play will be the Jayhawk Invitational against Southeast Missouri State, Kansas, Missouri State and Iowa; and OSU Mizuno Classic featuring the 2021 College World Series participant Cowgirls and Kansas City.

The 2022 home opener will be an in-state battle against Kansas on March 23 at 6 p.m.

Midweek matchups will see the Shockers face Missouri State, Omaha, Oklahoma and Kansas City on the road; and home contests with Kansas and Oklahoma State (April 6).

The Shockers begin their quest to repeat as American Athletic Conference Champions, April 1-3 when they host Tulsa at Wilkins Stadium. Memphis (April 22-24) and UCF (May 6-8) will also visit Wilkins Stadium for conference weekend series in 2022.

Wichita State's three road series in American play include: South Florida (April 8-10), Houston (April 14-16) and East Carolina (April 29-May 1).

The 2022 American Athletic Conference Championship will be hosted by East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., May 12-14.

Season tickets are on sale now at GoShockers.com/Tickets or by calling the Shocker Ticket Office at 316-978-3267.