BALTIMORE, Md. – First year Coppin State head softball coach Gino Olivieri has released his 2016 schedule.

In a welcomed change from last season where they played 76 percent of their games off campus, the Lady Eagles will play 21 of their 40 games at home.

Coppin State will face non-conference opponents will feature nine teams from five different leagues (Metro Atlantic Athletic, Northeast, Patriot League, Atlantic 10 and American East).

The 2016 season begins on Feb. 12 when the Eagles head to Greensboro, N.C. to compete in the North Carolina A&T State tournament. Coppin State will open its season against Rider University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and two games in as many days against the host team North Carolina A&T State University.

This will be the Lady Eagles second time in three years opening the season against Rider and third consecutive season participating in the North Carolina A&T State tournament. The Broncos are returning 17 letterwinners from the 2015 team.

Coppin State will play its home opener Mar. 5 and start an eight-game homestand with a doubleheader against Farleigh-Dickenson University, a team that lost in the NEC tournament championship contest.

The Lady Eagles continue the homestand from Mar 6-12 with doubleheaders against Rhode Island, Marist and Lafayette.

The Lady Eagles will begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play on the road at Norfolk State University on Mar. 19-20.

Coppin State will open the home portion of its conference schedule on Mar. 25-26 against UMES. All together the Eagles will play the four games against the Hawks in 2016. The Lady Eagles swept UMES in three games last season.

The Eagles final homestand, a 10-gamer, will last from Apr. 9-24, including doubleheaders against MEAC foes Howard (Apr. 9-10) and Hampton (Apr. 23-24). Coppin State also face Albany from the on Apr. 16-17.

Coppin State will conclude MEAC conference play on the road against Morgan State on Apr.30-May 1. The MEAC Tournament will be held from May 12-14 in Ormond Beach (Fl.). 

Coppin State returns nine players from last season including senior infielder Danielle Smith, who was named to the all-MEAC first-team and College Sports Madness second team. She led Coppin State with 37 hits and five home runs. She ended last season with a .359 batting average. Smith enjoyed a 16-game hitting streak late in the season in which she hit was batting .520, had 26 hits and scored 21 runs.