Softball Opens C-USA Play in San Antonio

Games 21-23
Dates: Mar. 6-8
First Pitch (CT): Fri.: 6 p.m.; Sat.: 1 p.m.; Sun.: 1 p.m.
Opponent: UTSA
Location: Roadrunner Field (San Antonio, TX)
Broadcast: CUSA.tv
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Twitter Updates: @MeanGreenSB

Game 24
Date: Mar. 9
First Pitch (CT): 3 p.m.
Opponent: Incarnate Word
Location: H-E-B Field (San Antonio, TX)
Broadcast: UIW.tv
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Twitter Updates: @MeanGreenSB

The North Texas softball team hits the road to open up Conference USA play in San Antonio against UTSA. The Mean Green (16-4) were picked as the preseason conference favorites while the Roadrunners (13-8) we slated to finish 10th.

The Mean Green will then stay in San Antonio one extra day for a non-conference matchup with Incarnate Word (8-12)

North Texas swept the season series against UTSA in 2019 by scores of 3-0, 4-3 and 9-1. The Mean Green currently hold a 17-11 all-time record against the Roadrunners including winning the last five matchups. North Texas and Incarnate Word are meeting for just the second time in program history with the Mean Green winning the only other matchup 10-2 on March 15, 2016.

Led offensively by senior Hanna Rebar (.370 BA, 5 HR, 15 RBI), the Mean Green have four players hitting .320 or better, Rebar, fellow senior Katie Clark (.349), junior Tarah Hilton (.321) and sophomore Tayla Evans (.310). North Texas is hitting .271 as a team and has scored 101 runs on 139 hits.

The pitching staff has been lights out to start the 2020 campaign. The Mean Green hurlers combine for a 2.09 ERA with opponents hitting .208 off of them. Junior Hope Trautwein, the C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year and three-time C-USA Pitcher of the Week leads the way with a 1.46 ERA and 101 strikeouts; opponents are hitting just .175 off the North Texas ace. Sophomore Bailey Tindell sits second on the team with a 2.37 ERA and freshman Ariel Thompson holds a 2.94 mark with 38 strikeouts.

Scouting UTSA
UTSA is led by head coach and Roadrunner softball alumni Michelle Cheatham who is in her seventh year at the helm of the program. The Roadrunners finished 2019 T-8th in Conference USA and were eliminated from the Conference Tournament by Marshall, the same team that eventually knocked out North Texas.

The Roadrunners have gotten off to a 13-8 start including winning three of their last six matchups, including a 19-1 win over Incarnate Word on Wednesday, March 4. UTSA is led offensively by senior outfielder Celeste Loughman who currently boasts a .348 batting average, the team as a whole is hitting .274 with 114 runs on 150 hits. The pitching staff holds an ERA of 6.33 and has allowed 106 runs on 168 hits with opponents hitting .296.

Scouting Incarnate Word
Head coach Joe Dipietro is in his third year at the helm of the Cardinal softball program. The 2020 team has already matched the win total from the 2019 season that saw UIW go 8-40, including a 10-game losing skid to start the season.

The Cardinals are led offensively by freshman Utility player Abby Frank who is hitting .381 with five RBI. The team as a whole is hitting .284 and has scored 73 runs on 145 hits. The pitching staff holds an ERA of 3.58 and has given up 101 runs on 142 hits with opponents hitting .268.

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Players Mentioned

Katie Clark

Tayla Evans

Tarah Hilton

Hanna Rebar

Ariel Thompson

Bailey Tindell

Hope Trautwein

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