After winning a school-record 53 games, earning a No. 1 national ranking and making its first appearance at the NAIA World Series, the Georgia Gwinnett College softball team will have a 2019 spring season that's filled with challenges.

The Grizzlies will play seven opponents that were ranked in the final NAIA 2018 Top 25 poll and three additional opponents that received votes from the national panel of coaches.

Two ranked opponents will come during a trip to California March 28 through April 2, and the team will play in the RussMatt Tournament in Auburndale, Fla., on Feb. 15-16.

"We need to continue to challenge ourselves in order for our program to take the next step forward on the national level," said Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg, who enters her seventh season in leading the program. "The tough teams we're playing in February and April will help us prepare for success in the NAIA Opening Round and national tournament."

GGC is scheduled to play 26 home games at the Grizzly Softball Complex, beginning with a doubleheader against Bryan College (Tenn.) on Feb. 6. Games against University of Rio Grande (Ohio) and Bluefield College (Va.) will follow on Feb. 9-10.

The regular season will end with the 2019 Association of Independent Institutions' championship tournament May 2-4 in Lawrenceville.

See the entire 2019 season schedule HERE.