PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Softball team revealed their 2016 spring softball schedule, featuring multiple tournaments in North Carolina.

On Feb. 12-14, UMES opens the season in Greensboro, N.C. where they will compete in the North Carolina A&T State Aggie Invitational. On Feb. 19-21, the squad travels back to Tar Hill country to participate in Gardner Webb’s Tournament.

On Feb. 27-28, Maryland Eastern Shore goes across the bridge as they will take part in the UMBC Kick Off Tourney. The two-day event features the Lady Hawks, UMBC Retrievers and the Lafayette Leopards.

On Mar. 4-6, the Lady Hawks return to North Carolina to compete in Campbell’s Tournament. After more than a week off, UMES goes down south to face three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foes in their annual spring break rodeo. The three-day, doubleheader competition features Savannah State (Mar. 15), South Carolina State (Mar. 16), and North Carolina Central (Mar. 17).

On Mar. 19-20, the ladies host route 13 rival Delaware State in their conference home opener. Then, the squad heads back to Baltimore to take on in-state foe Coppin State (Mar. 25-26).

Maryland Eastern Shore comes back home where the Norfolk State Spartans await (Apr. 2-3). On April 6, the Lady Hawks travel to Fairfax, Va. to meet George Mason in a nonconference doubleheader.

A week later, UMES host the Retrievers in a rematch doubleheader at Hawks Field. On Apr. 16-17, the club resumes conference play as they voyage to Hampton, Va. to meet the Hampton Lady Pirates.

On Apr. 20, the squad goes to Newark, Del. to square off against the Delaware Blue Hens in nonconference action. On Apr. 23-24, UMES travels back to Baltimore for the third time to take on Morgan State in MEAC play.

On Apr. 27, Maryland Eastern Shore heads to the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, where the Drexel Dragons await. On Apr. 30-May 1, the squad closes out the regular season with a three-game home series against Howard.

On May 5-7, the MEAC Softball Championship will be held in Ormond Beach, Fla. The top four teams from both divisions qualify for the tournament and the winner receives an automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.