Softball Returns Home To Open C-USA Play

DENTON – North Texas softball is ready to be home.

Ask throughout the team. From head coach Rodney DeLong, to the players, the road has taken a toll on Mean Green softball. After just one homestand in the first four weeks of the season, the Mean Green return home to defend Lovelace Stadium.

North Texas is undefeated in Denton this season, however, and looking to build on that 4-0 mark when Southern Miss comes to town to open Conference USA play with a weekend series. A doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. will mark the start of the action, with one game on Sunday at noon.

"The competition we played, the pitching we faced was tough," DeLong said. "I definitely look for them to be happy, play harder and be happy to be home. Being on the road like that is tough."

C-USA has been a mixed bag this season. In the West it is Louisiana Tech, North Texas and Southern Miss leading the division in that order. All three teams got off to strong starts, but have since cooled down a bit with tough scheduling. Southern Miss is coming off a 5-2 win over Michigan State while the Mean Green are hoping to rebound from a 1-3 weekend in Lubbock as part of the Texas Tech Invitational.

While it is the first series of conference play, this weekend could have big implications as the C-USA schedule winds down.

"I think the league is better than people thought it was going to be," DeLong said. "I think Southern Miss will be up there at the end of the season. They're going to put pressure on us. I think they'll be in the mix. They've got some talent."

The Golden Eagles are the second best defensive team in the league with a .970 fielding mark. The pitching has been strong too for Southern Miss with a team ERA of 2.13, good for second in C-USA. The Mean Green are the top offensive team in the conference. The Mean Green lead in slugging percentage, runs scored, on base percentage and total bases.

"We've seen some good pitching and good hitting," junior Lacy Gregory said. "That's gotten us prepared to this point. We are expecting big crowds. This has been a great atmosphere. It's an exciting time for this team."

This is the first of two weekends in a row you can catch Mean Green softball at Lovelace Stadium. For the first-time Lovelace Stadium will offer a beer and wine selection from the concession stand, as well as specialty ballpark items.

Tickets can be purchased for either day, or both here. All games will be streamed on CUSA.tv with live updates on @MeanGreenSB social channels.

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Lacy Gregory

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