DAYTON, Ohio – University of Dayton softball head coach Cara LaPlaca has announced the Flyers' 2018 slate, a schedule that includes games against several teams that qualified for the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

"This schedule will challenge our team in a number of ways," commented LaPlaca. "Having the opportunity to travel coast to coast and competing against high-level teams from elite conferences will expose us to a variety of playing styles. We expect our preseason slate will prepare us for the rigorous Atlantic 10 schedule as we work towards competing for another A-10 Championship."

Dayton will play nearly the entire first half of the season away from home, kicking off the year with back-to-back trips to North Carolina and California. The Flyers will open both the home and Atlantic 10 portions of their schedule against Fordham March 24-25.

Fordham is set to host the 2018 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship May 9-12 in Bronx, N.Y.

The Flyers wrapped up 2017 with a 29-27 overall record and a 13-10 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference play, making the program's fifth-consecutive appearance in the A-10 Championship.