The 2013 University of Northern Iowa softball schedule will feature 21 home games, including the season opener on Feb. 8 against defending NCAA national champion Alabama.
The Panthers and Crimson Tide will match up in the UNI-Dome Classic on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the UNI-Dome. Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy is a 1988 graduate of UNI and a native of Fayette, Iowa. The Crimson Tide roster also features sophomore utility Jadyn Spencer (Waterloo, Iowa/West HS) and Director of Operations Kate Petullo-Harris, also a native of Waterloo, Iowa.
The Panthers will play five games in the season-opening RAMADA UNI-Dome Classic with other matchups against North Dakota State, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Illinois and Drake.
UNI will then take part in four tournaments prior to embarking on Missouri Valley Conference play. UNI will travel to Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 15-17, to play in the Arizona State Littlewood Classic. The Panthers will take part in the Central Arkansas Tournament Feb. 22-24. UNI will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., March 1-3, to play in the Pig Woo Classic. UNI will wrap up tournament play in the Mizuno Classic March 8-10 in Stillwater, Okla.
The Panthers will begin MVC regular season play March 16-17 in Springfield, Mo., against the Missouri State Bears.
UNI will play its first games of the season at Robinson-Dresser Field March 23-24 when the Southern Illinois Salukis travel to Cedar Falls.
The Panthers will mix in four games against non-conference competition during the Valley schedule. UNI will play host to both Iowa State (April 3) and Iowa (April 25) as well as traveling to Madison, Wis., to challenge the Wisconsin Badgers (April 10) in a doubleheader.
The MVC Tournament will be played May 9-11 in Omaha, Neb.
UNI won the 2012 MVC regular season title with a 21-5 league mark. UNI posted a 38-16 overall record in 2012, which included an 11-2 mark at home.
2013 UNI-DOME Classic Schedule
Fri., Feb. 8
1 p.m. - Wisconsin-Green Bay vs. North Dakota State
3 p.m. - Alabama vs. Illinois
5 p.m. - North Dakota State vs. Drake
7 p.m. - UNI vs. Alabama
9 p.m. - Mount Mercy College vs. Northwestern College
11 p.m. - Mount Mercy College vs. Northwestern College
Sat., Feb. 9
9 a.m. - Illlinois vs. North Dakota State
11 a.m. - Illinois vs. Drake
1 p.m. - UNI vs. North Dakota State
3 p.m. - Alabama vs. Drake
5 p.m. - Alabama vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay
7 p.m. - UNI vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay
9 p.m. - Mount Mercy College vs. Ashford
11 p.m. - Mount Mercy College vs. Ashford
Sun., Feb. 10
10 a.m. - Alabama vs. North Dakota State
12 p.m. - Illinois vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay
2 p.m. - Illinois vs. UNI
4 p.m. - Wisconsin-Green Bay vs. Drake
6 p.m. - UNI vs. Drake
Team listed first is in the 1st base dugout
Home team is underlined
