UCD softballers to start 2013 as road warriors

The UC Davis softball team has announced a 2013 schedule that will find it on the road for all but three of its first 29 games.

The slate includes four tournaments; three Causeway Classic matchups; games against teams from power conferences like the Pac-12, Big East and Big 12; and the ninth annual Strike Out Cancer event.

The Aggies’ season opens on Feb. 8 at the Fresno State Kickoff, where the they will play five games over three days capped by a matchup against Sacramento State.

UCD is home on Feb. 13 for a contest with Cal before heading into the Stanford Invitational three days later.

After that, the Aggies have a week to prepare for the grueling NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., at which they will play six games in three days beginning Feb. 22.

On Feb. 27, UCD wraps up its three-game series against the Hornets by playing a doubleheader at Sac State.

An afternoon doubleheader at St. Mary’s on March 2 completes a string of 14 consecutive road games, then the Aggies return home on March 6 to host Stanford.

Following the Diamond Devil Invitational—  a three-day, five-game event hosted by Arizona State — UCD ends its nonconference schedule with a doubleheader at CSU Bakersfield on March 16 and a home match against Oregon State on March 24.

Beginning on March 29 at Hawaii, the Aggies’ conference schedule includes home series against Cal State Northridge (April 6-7), Pacific (April 10 and 17), Cal State Fullerton (April 27-28) and Cal Poly (May 10-11).

In 2012, UCD won six of its seven Big West series and entered the final weekend of the season engaged in a four-way fight for the conference championship. Despite finishing with 14 conference victories, the Aggies fell just short of winning their second league title in three years.