NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware announced its 2008 softball schedule on Thursday, with two early-season tournaments and 24 home games highlighting the slate.

The Blue Hens, who will be led by 28th-year head coach B.J. Ferguson, open the season on March 4 with a home doubleheader against Pennsylvania before participating in the Norfolk State Spartan Classic on March 7-9. Delaware returns home to host La Salle in a twinbill on March 12 before playing in the Bash at the Beach in Georgetown, DE on March 15-16.

Delaware then begins a seven-game homestand, hosting Lehigh in a doubleheader on March 19, opening Colonial Athletic Association play on March 21-22 with a three-game series against Georgia State, and hosting instate rival Delaware State in a twinbill on March 26. The Blue Hens close out the month with a three-game conference series at UNC Wilmington on March 29-30 and then travel to Villanova for a doubleheader on April 1.

UD returns home to host CAA rival Drexel in a three-game set on April 5-6 before travelling to Rider for a doubleheader on April 9 and playing a three-game series at Towson on April 12-13. After a home twinbill versus Saint Joseph’s on April 16, the Blue Hens welcome George Mason for a three-game conference set on April 19-20.

Delaware then travels to Army for a doubleheader on April 23 but returns home to host defending league champion Hofstra in a three-game series on April 26-27 before facing UMBC in a doubleheader at Delaware Field on April 30. The Blue Hens close out the regular season with a three-game CAA series at James Madison on May 3-4.

The four-team CAA Tournament will be held on May 8-10 on the campus of the regular season champion.

The Blue Hens, who went 16-26-3 overall last season and finished in a tie for sixth place in the CAA with a 7-13 league mark, return all but one of their position starters and two of three pitchers for the 2008 season. Junior shortstop Kim Ovittore (above) will lead the Delaware attack after hitting .369 with a team-high 52 hits last season, while senior centerfielder Katie Lee batted .294 with 35 hits and nine stolen bases a year ago.

2008 University of Delaware Softball Schedule

Mar. 4 vs. Pennsylvania (DH), 2 p.m.; Mar. 7-9 at Norfolk State Spartan Classic (Norfolk, VA), tba; Mar. 12 vs. La Salle (DH), 2 p.m.; Mar. 15-16 at Bash at the Beach (Georgetown, DE), tba; Mar. 19 vs. Lehigh (DH), 2 p.m.; Mar. 21 vs. *Georgia State (DH), 2 p.m.; Mar. 22 vs. *Georgia State, 12 noon; Mar. 26 vs. Delaware State (DH), 2:30 p.m.; Mar. 29 at *UNC Wilmington (DH), 12 noon; Mar. 30 at *UNC Wilmington, 12 noon.

Apr. 1 at Villanova (DH), 3 p.m.; Apr. 5 vs. *Drexel (DH), 12 noon; Apr. 6 vs. *Drexel, 12 noon; Apr. 9 at Rider (DH), 3 p.m.; Apr. 12 at *Towson (DH), tba; Apr. 13 at *Towson, tba; Apr. 16 vs. Saint Joseph’s (DH), 3 p.m.; Apr. 19 vs. *George Mason (DH), 12 noon; Apr. 20 vs. *George Mason, 12 noon; Apr. 23 at Army (DH), 3 p.m.; Apr. 26 vs. *Hofstra (DH), 12 noon; Apr. 27 vs. *Hofstra, 12 noon; Apr. 30 vs. UMBC (DH), 2 p.m.

May 3 at *James Madison (DH), tba; May 4 at *James Madison, tba; May 8-10 at CAA Tournament (hosted by regular season champion), tba.