University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Releases 2006 Softball Schedule
9/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON (9/19/05) - The University of North Texas has announced its 2006 softball schedule which is once again filled with some of the top teams in the country. The Mean Green will face four teams that were ranked in the 2005 USA Today/NFCA Final Top 25 Poll and five teams from the Big XII.
Under second-year head coach Kelly Burns, the Mean Green has 12 home dates and will host one fall tournament. North Texas opens its fall season this weekend when it hosts the Mean Green Invitational at Denia Park on Saturday and Sunday.
North Texas opens the spring season with a tournament at Sam Houston State on Feb. 11-12 and then returns home to face Texas State on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The Mean Green is planning to play in its new softball complex for the first time on Feb. 15, located on Bonnie Brae in Denton across from the new athletic center.
The Mean Green will participate in four tournaments, including the Tulsa Invitational which North Texas won last year. NT will return to the OU Invitational in Norman and travels to Reno, NV for the first time to participate in the University of Nevada Tournament.
NT’s non-conference slate includes Nicholls State, Texas, Wichita State, Louisiana-Monroe, Stephen F. Austin, Oklahoma and Baylor. At home, the Mean Green faces Oklahoma State on February, 22 and Oklahoma on March 22. NT hosts Texas Tech for the first time on April 13. Texas, Oklahoma and Baylor were all nationally-ranked last year.
The Mean Green begins conference play with an away series against Florida International on April 8-9. Sun Belt foes making their way to Denton include national powerhouse Louisiana-Lafayette and Middle Tennessee. On Aprll 29-30, NT travels to Troy, AL to play new conference opponent, Troy. North Texas continues to play New Mexico State this year in a home contest, but it will be as a non-conference game.
North Texas closes out the regular season by playing Western Kentucky in Bowling Green on May 6-7. Florida International will host the Sun Belt Conference Tournament from May 11-14 in Miami.
The Mean Green finished the 2005 season with a 15-38 overall record and a 6-14 conference mark. NT returns seven starters and 15 letterwinners for the upcoming season.
