TUCSON, Ariz. – The Emory & Henry College Softball Team gets an early taste of the national stage this weekend as it competes at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The even-year, three-day invitational tournament is being played at Lincoln Regional Park in Tucson, Arizona and features 24 of the top teams in NCAA Division III.
Last year, 13 of these programs made the NCAA Tournament with four advancing to the Division III "Elite Eight." Additionally, all four teams from the 2019 Demorest Regional - Emory & Henry, Emory University, Transylvania University and Piedmont College - are in attendance.
The Wasps departed Southwest Virginia on Wednesday morning by bus, traveling to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. From there, 11 of the 27 members of the travel party got their first experience flying as the team made its trek across the country to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. After a meal at West Coast-favorite In-N-Out Burger in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, E&H headed east on Interstate 10 to Tucson to rest for the night.
Thursday morning, the Wasps had a light practice at Lincoln Regional Park prior to traveling to Oracle, Arizona - about an hour north of Tucson - for an afternoon of off-roading in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Friday is when E&H takes the field. The first contest will be at 6:00 p.m. MST (8:00 p.m. Eastern) with the Wasps taking on the No. 15 Crusaders of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Following that contest will be Emory & Henry vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 8 p.m. MST (10:00 p.m. Eastern).
Saturday, the Wasps will be in action against No. 5 Illinois Wesleyan University at 1:30 p.m. MST (3:30 p.m. Eastern) and Babson College (3:30 p.m. MST/5:30 p.m. Eastern). Emory & Henry closes the event on Sunday morning with contests against Pacific Lutheran (9:00 a.m. MST/noon Eastern Daylight Time) and Emerson College (11:00 a.m. MST/2:00 p.m. Eastern).
(Fans are reminded that Daylight Savings Time begins on the East Coast at 2 a.m. Sunday, so "Spring Forward" and set your clock ahead an hour before going to bed. Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.)
Fans will be able to follow the Wasps in two ways over the weekend, both of which can be found at http://www.GoWasps.com/live. Live Stats and a Facebook Live broadcast will be available for all six games. For the most up-to-date information, visit GoWasps.com.
---E&H---
2020 NFCA Leadoff Classic
NCAA Division III
Lincoln Regional Park
Tucson, Arizona
| Fri., March 6 | Home | Visitor | Local Time (MST) | Emory Time | Field | |||||
| No. 15 Mary Hardin-Baylor | Emory & Henry | 6 p.m. | 8 p.m. | 6 | ||||||
| Emory & Henry | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps | 8 p.m. | 10 p.m. | 6 | ||||||
| Sat., March 7 | Emory & Henry | No. 5 Illinois Wesleyan | 1:30 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | 7 | |||||
| Babson | Emory & Henry | 3:30 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 8 | ||||||
| Sun., March 8 | Pacific Lutheran | Emory & Henry | 9 a.m. | noon | 1 | |||||
| Emory & Henry | Emerson | 11 a.m. | 2 p.m. | 1 |