WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown University softball team released its 2016 schedule, a slate that features a home tournament co-hosted with George Washington, five away tournaments and nine regular season home games.

"I am excited for the 2016 season," Georgetown Head Coach Pat Conlan said. We have put together a challenging but balanced preseason schedule. We will have an opportunity to compete against some of the best programs in the country and that will help prepare us for Big East play." The Hoyas return 10 letterwinners to the field and welcome four newcomers to the roster. Georgetown will kick off the season with the Charleston Southern Tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, Feb. 12-13. GU will face Towson, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) and host Charleston Southern.

The Blue & Gray will then travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to compete in the Jacksonville Tournament, Feb. 19-21, where the Hoyas will take on Penn State, Pittsburgh, Radford and host Jacksonville. Georgetown will end a 13-game road swing with the UNC Chapel Hill Tournament where it will duel against IUPUI, Fairfield and host North Carolina, Feb. 26-28.

The Hoyas will then open home play as co-host of the District Invite, which will feature George Washington, Monmouth, Robert Morris and Maryland, March 4-6. Games will be played at George Washington's Mount Vernon Athletic Complex and Nationals Academy.

GU will then head to the southwest to participate in the Arizona State Tournament, March 11-13, where the Hoyas will match up against James Madison, Nebraska and host, Arizona State (ASU). James Madison and ASU both finished in the NCAA top 20 last season.

Georgetown will then play in its last regular season tournament, the George Mason Tournament, March 18-20. The team will battle it out against Canisius, Cornell, Saint Francis (Pa.) and host George Mason.

The Hoyas will then open BIG EAST play at home as GU hosts Saint John's, March 25-26. Georgetown will go on to host seven more games against Mount Saint Mary's (Apr. 6), Towson (Apr. 13), Seton Hall (Apr. 16-17), George Washington (Apr. 20) and Butler (May 7-8).

The team will also play eight conference road games visiting DePaul (Apr. 2-3), Creighton (Apr. 9-10), Villanova (Apr. 23-24) and Providence (Apr.30-May 1).

The BIG EAST Championships are slated for May 13-14 in Rosemont, Ill.