The Valpo softball program announced its schedule for the upcoming 2024 campaign on Wednesday, a slate which features 18 home games at the Valpo Softball Complex.

A challenging opening weekend will kick off the 2024 season, as the Beacons will head to College Station, Texas Feb. 9-11 to take on Tulsa and Lehigh twice apiece and host Texas A&M once. All three opponents finished in the top-100 of the RPI last season — Lehigh had a 40-win season in 2023, while Texas A&M posted 35 wins and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

The second weekend of competition brings a trip to Clinton, S.C. for five games in three days at Presbyterian Feb. 16-18. Valpo will face the hosts once and will match up against Morehead State and Youngstown State twice apiece.

A trip to Chattanooga, Tenn. is on the docket Feb. 23-25, highlighted by a game against Ohio, which won 32 games last season. The Beacons will also take on Texas A&M, UT Martin, Georgetown and Chattanooga over the course of that weekend.

Valpo stays in state the weekend of March 2-3 with a trip to Bloomington, Ind. to face Indiana and Bowling Green twice apiece. The Hoosiers won 44 games last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

The final weekend of preconference action sees the Beacons head to Omaha, Neb. March 7-9. Valpo will face Omaha — which won 33 games and the Summit League Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament last season — twice, as well as Kansas City, Northern Colorado and Rider once each.

In the midst of conference play, Valpo is also slated to host a pair of nonconference doubleheaders. The Beacons will welcome Eastern Illinois — which won 34 games and the OVC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament last season — to the Valpo Softball Complex April 17, as well as Northern Illinois April 23.

Missouri Valley Conference action kicks off with a three-game series March 15-17 at Evansville. Valpo will also travel for series at Drake (March 22-24), Illinois State (April 12-14) and Missouri State (April 19-21).

The home slate kicks off with the Bradley series March 29-30. The Beacons will also welcome Belmont (April 5-7), Murray State (April 26-28) and UNI (May 3-5) to the Valpo Softball Complex. Valpo’s three-game set against UIC is split up over three midweek dates, with the Beacons hosting the Flames April 9 and April 10 before heading to Chicago April 30.

The 2024 MVC Tournament is scheduled to be contested in Normal, Ill. May 9-12, with the tournament champion earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.