BALTIMORE, Md. (March 31, 2017)-After more than a decade of talks and planning for an upgraded softball facility for Morgan State, the dream will finally become a reality, when the Lady Bears host rival Howard for a three-game Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) this weekend.

Morgan State will open up the newly refurbished Lois T. Murray Field on Saturday, April 1 when it takes on the Howard Lady Bison in a MEAC single game beginning at 3:30 p.m. The two teams will close out the weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday starting at noon. The three-game series will be the 2017 home, as well as MEAC opener for the Lady Bears.

"The new field has really generated a sense of pride in the program, because we didn't have a field last year," said Morgan State head coach Larry Hineline. "I think all of the girls are feeling it, as far as Morgan State pride and that's a great thing. We believe it will help us a little bit. We still have to play the games and do well, but it certainly is an advantage for us over last year."

"I'm extremely excited for the ladies to have a field they are proud of and call their own," said Morgan State Director of Athletics Edward Scott. "From the time I interviewed until its completion, this was my top priority for me.

"As a former student-athlete, every senior should play a home game as their final home contest and that's now a reality for the softball team. I look forward to seeing Coach Hineline and the ladies compete on their newly surface."

The project cost $80,000 and consisted of the infield being completely dug up and redone. New home and visitor dugouts were built, as well as a new backstop and fence around the playing surface were installed and topped off with a windscreen along the entire outfield fence. The facility will also feature for the first-time, two pitching warm-up areas, one along each side of the baselines, as well as a batting cage, which will be on the home side of the field.  

Morgan State (9-10) is off to its best start through its first 19 games since 2009, when that Lady Bears team began the season 12-7.