LOS ANGELES – The LMU softball team has announced its 2017 schedule, with the Lions slated to be play in a total of 55 games, including three tournaments and 35 games at Smith Field.

The Lions will open up the season at the Cal State Fullerton Tournament Feb. 10-12, squaring off against North Dakota State in the season opener before facing Ole Miss and Utah State twice to close out opening weekend. LMU continues play the following weekend with the Mary Nutter Palm Springs Invitational Feb. 17-19, with games slated against Liberty, Arkansas UCF, Utah Valley and Cal State Northridge.

Upon returning from the invitational, LMU hosts its first games at Smith field with a doubleheader versus Utah Feb. 20 and follows with a three-game series against Michigan State Feb. 24-26. March opens with a doubleheader at UC Riverside March 4 before a double dip with BU March 7 to kick off an 18-game home stand.

The two-week LMU Tournament commences with contests against Bryant, Hartford, Boise State, Arizona and North Dakota, while UT Martin and Quinnipiac will also take the field in Los Angeles. Sandwiched in between the second week of the tournament is a matchup against Texas March 14 before hosting UC Santa Barbara, defending national champion Oklahoma, Sacramento State, DePaul and Cal Poly March 16-19, while Dartmouth will also compete the closing week of the LMU Tournament.

Dartmouth will remain in town for a twin bill March 21 and Cal State Fullerton will visit March 23-24 for a three-game swing. The Lions return to the road at Long Beach State for a doubleheader March 28, return to Smith Field the following day for a contest with San Jose State and close out non-conference action with a pair of games against UC Santa Barbara April 3.

WCC play begins with hosting defending champion BYU April 8-7 before heading out for a six-game road trip at Santa Clara April 14-15 and Pacific April 22-24. LMU will close out the regular season at Smith Field against Saint Mary’s April 29-30 and San Diego May 12-13.