ESPN Announces College Softball Coverage

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 five 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 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