Division 1 Showdown

One of the top matchups expected at THE Spring Games 2024 is Ohio State University against Liberty University, scheduled for February 17 at 3 PM at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, FL. Both Head Coaches have been coming to Central Florida for sunny softball for many years. 

The Buckeyes

Last season, in 2023, Ohio State reached the 30-win mark yet again and finished in the top half of the Big Ten standings for the seventh consecutive season. The Buckeyes won five of the seven weekend series on its schedule, including one over rival Michigan, and produced three All-Big Ten honorees as seasons ended. Schoenly also won her 500th career game on March 11.

Coach Schoenly talks about why the Buckeyes continue to come to THE Spring Games: “We have continued to participate in The Spring Games because the competition has been top notch each and every year. Our fans have enjoyed the atmosphere and the hospitality of the staff has been fantastic.

 We look forward to the competition! A neutral site allows for an even playing field among teams and our crowd makes it feel like a home game for us. Buckeye Nation comes in numbers!”

The Flames

The Lady Flames finished the 2023 season with a 40-22 record and a No. 25 national ranking (D1Softball.com). The team earned the first at-large berth in program history, flying to California for the NCAA Los Angeles Regional. Liberty made the most of its time out west, eliminating No. 2 UCLA and Grand Canyon to make a Regional final for the third time in program history. The Lady Flames set program single-season records for wins over Top 25 teams (four) and games against Top 25 opponents (16) last season. Liberty defeated some of the top pitchers in collegiate softball including Alabama’s Montana Fouts, Central Arkansas’ Kayla Beaver, Clemson’s Valerie Cagle, UCLA’s Brooke Yanez and Megan Faraimo.  

2024 will mark the fifth year that the Flames have attended THE Spring Games. Coach Richardson shares her commitment to THE Spring Games: “Liberty chose THE Spring Games (TSG) for the start of our 2024 season because of the location and staff. TSG locations provide warmer weather, beautiful surroundings and excellent playing facilities, not to mention the benefit of great competition. TSG staff are passionate about the sport, educated and experienced. They do a fantastic job meeting the needs of their teams and fans. We will compete against many Big 10 teams, including Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, and Ohio State as well as longtime rival and a top program: Coastal Carolina. We have had some great games against these teams in the past and this year shouldn’t be any different.  You don’t want to miss it”. - Coach Richardson

Coaches Bio

Ohio State Head Coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly 524 career victories. Thirteen consecutive 30-win seasons. Forty-two players have earned a total of 63 all-conference honors. Eighteen NCAA Regional appearances as either a head coach, assistant coach, or player. By any measure, Kelly Kovach Schoenly is a winner and through 11 seasons leading Ohio State, she has the Buckeyes positioned to write the next chapter in its storied history.

In her 11 seasons in Columbus, Schoenly’s teams have won 336 games, including 22 over teams ranked in the Top 25. Thirty-one of her players have earned All-Big Ten or NFCA All-Midwest Region honors. And just as important, the Buckeyes are excelling in the classroom. In 2022, 15 student-athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten recognition, which accounted for 75 percent of those who were eligible. 

Schoenly’s current winning percentage of .617 (336-208-1) at Ohio State is the best in program history, as is her Big Ten winning percentage of .578 (143-104-1).

Liberty University Head Coach Dot Richardson During her time at Liberty, Richardson has helped guide a resurgence of the softball program. Entering the 2024 season, Richardson has led the Lady Flames to a 344-232 overall record, including four NCAA Regional appearances and the first three NCAA Regional finals appearances in program history. A two-time ASUN Coach of the Year (2021, 2022) and two-time VaSID State Coach of the Year (2018, 2023), she was also named Big South Coach of the Year in both 2018 and 2019.

Liberty has continued its ascent as a program, posting 40 or more wins for the sixth straight full season in 2023. The Lady Flames are one of just six NCAA Division I softball teams to win 40 or more games in each season from 2017-19 and 2021-22.

Here is the list of D1 teams participating in THE Spring Games 2024:

Point Park University (RSC)Spring Arbor University (Crossroads)Bellarmine University (ASUN)Brown University (IVY)Bucknell University (Patriot)Butler University (Big East)Central Michigan University (MAC)Coastal Carolina University (Sunbelt)Columbia University (IVY)Cornell University (IVY)East Tennessee State University (SOCON)Le Moyne College (NEC)Liberty University (CUSA)Liberty University (CUSA)Long Island University (NEC)Manhattan College (MAAC)Middle Tennessee State University (CUSA)Monmouth University (CAA)North Dakota-Friendly Pennsylvania State University (Big Ten)Quinnipiac University (MAAC)Sacred Heart University (NEC)Sacred Heart University (NEC)Siena College (MAAC) Siena College (MAAC)Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (MVC)St. Bonaventure University (Atlantic 10)St. Bonaventure University (Atlantic 10) Stonehill College (NEC)The Ohio State University (Big Ten) Troy University (Sunbelt)University at Albany (America East) University of California, Riverside (Big West) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Big Ten)University of Iowa (Big Ten)University of Kansas (Big 12) University of Southern Indiana (OVC)University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (SOCON)Western Michigan University (MAC)