ESPN Rolls Out Unprecedented College Softball Schedule
More than 80 Regular-Season Games; Five Conference Championship Games ESPN will offer an unprecedented college softball lineup this season with more than 80 regular-season games scheduled across its networks. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNEWS will combine to televise more than 40 games, including the entire SEC tournament and the ACC, American, SWAC, and Big South championship games. In addition, ESPN3 will carry more than 40 exclusive regular-season games to be announced at a later date. The television schedule begins with preseason No. 1 Tennessee hosting South Carolina on Sunday, March 23, at 2:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Once the regular season concludes, ESPN’s coverage will continue with regional round coverage and every pitch of the super regionals and the NCAA Women’s College World Series. Additional television highlights:
- A record 17 matchups featuring two ranked teams will air on an ESPN network including No. 10 Texas at No. 2 Oklahoma on Thursday, April 17, on ESPN2. The defending National Champion Oklahoma Sooners will also play at No.16 Baylor on Saturday, April 12 on ESPN
- In addition to its game against South Carolina, No. 1 Tennessee will be seen in two other games – at No. 11 Texas A&M on Friday, April 11 and Sunday, April 13
- Twelve games feature a top 5 team in the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason top 25 games and, overall, a ranked team will appear in 27 games
ESPN offers a deep roster of softball analysts. Each analyst – Jessica Mendoza, Jennie Finch, Amanda Scarborough, Cheri Kempf and Michele Smith — was named a collegiate All-American multiple times. Additionally, Finch, Mendoza, and Smith combine for six Olympic medals, including four gold. Completing the broadcast assignments are play-by-play commentators Beth Mowins, Pam Ward, Cara Capuano, Adam Amin, Holly Rowe, and Mark Neely. 2014 ESPN NCAA Softball Television Schedule (subject to change)
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Network |
| Sun, March 23 | 2:30 p.m. | South Carolina vs. #1 Tennessee | ESPNU |
| 7 p.m. | #10 Texas at #16 Baylor | ESPNU | |
| Mon, March 31 | 6 p.m. | # 12 Florida State at UNC | ESPNU |
| Fri, April 4 | 9 p.m. | Arkansas at #6 Alabama | ESPNU |
| Sat, April 5 | 5 p.m. | Auburn at #3 Florida | ESPNU |
| Sun, April 6 | 3 p.m. | Arkansas at #6 Alabama | ESPN |
| Thu, April 10 | 11 p.m. | #5 Washington at #20 Stanford | ESPNU |
| Fri, April 11 | 8 p.m. | #1 Tennessee at #11 Texas A&M | ESPNU |
| Sat, April 12 | 3 p.m. | #2 Oklahoma at #16 Baylor | ESPN |
| Sat, April 12 | 10 p.m. | #5 Washington at #20 Stanford | ESPN2 |
| Sun, April 13 | 1 p.m. | #1 Tennessee at #11 Texas A&M | ESPNU |
| Mon, April 14 | 7 p.m. | #12 Florida State at Notre Dame | ESPNU |
| Wed, April 16 | 7 p.m. | Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton | ESPNU |
| 9:30 p.m. | Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton | ESPNU | |
| Thu, April 17 | 9 p.m. | #10 Texas at # 2 Oklahoma | ESPN2 |
| Fri, April 18 | 8 p.m. | #3 Florida at #11 Texas A&M | ESPNU |
| Sat, April 19 | 4 p.m. | #19 LSU at South Carolina | ESPNU |
| 6 p.m. | #3 Florida at #11 Texas A&M | ESPNU | |
| Sun, April 20 | 3 p.m. | Syracuse at #12 Florida State | ESPNU |
| Thu, April 24 | 8 p.m. | #21 Georgia at # 6 Alabama | ESPN |
| Fri, April 25 | 10 p.m. | # 8 Oregon at #20 Stanford | ESPNU |
| Sat, April 26 | 12 p.m. | #21 Georgia at # 6 Alabama | ESPNU |
| Mon, April 28 | 7 p.m. | Maryland at Notre Dame | ESPNU |
| Thu, May 1 | 8 p.m. | # 6 Alabama at # 17 Missouri | ESPN |
| Sat, May 3 | 2 p.m. | # 6 Alabama at # 17 Missouri | ESPNU |
| 4 p.m. | # 14 Kentucky at #21 Georgia | ESPNU | |
| 6 p.m. | #20 Stanford at #13 UCLA | ESPNU | |
| 7:30 p.m. | #3 Florida at Arkansas | ESPN | |
| Sun, May 4 | 1 p.m. | #3 Florida at Arkansas | ESPN |
| 3 p.m. | #20 Stanford at #13 UCLA | ESPN |
2014 ESPN NCAA Conference Championship (subject to change)
| Wed, May 7 | 4 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Play-In Game No. 1 | ESPNU |
| 6:30 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Play-In Game No. 2 | ESPNU | |
| Thu, May 8 | 11 a.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Quarterfinal No. 1 | ESPNU |
| 1:30 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Quarterfinal No. 2 | ESPNU | |
| 4 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Quarterfinal No. 3 | ESPNU | |
| 6:30 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Quarterfinal No. 4 | ESPNU | |
| Fri, May 9 | 3 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Semifinal No. 1 | ESPNU |
| 5:30 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Semifinal No. 2 | ESPNU | |
| Sat, May 10 | 2 p.m. | ACC Softball Tournament – Championship | ESPN2 |
| 3:30 p.m. | American Softball Tournament – Championship | ESPNEWS | |
| 8 p.m. | SEC Softball Tournament – Championship | ESPN2 | |
| 10 p.m. | SWAC Softball Tournament – Championship* | ESPNU | |
| Sun, May 11 | Noon | Big South Softball Tournament – Championship | ESPNU |
*Live on ESPN 3 at 3:00 p.m.; taped delayed on ESPNU -30- Media contact: Derek Volner at 860-384-9986; [email protected] and @DerekVolner
