Friday, February 10
Atlanta, Georgia
8 AM CT
University of North Texas
vs
UIC
Photo by: Zach Del Bello
No. 24 Softball Opens Season at Buzz Classic
2/9/2023 7:55:00 AM | Softball
ATLANTA – The No. 24 UNT softball team opens the 2023 season with a doubleheader on Friday at the Buzz Classic.
During the five-team tournament, from Feb. 10-12, the Mean Green will match up with UIC, Saint Francis, UConn and twice against hosts Georgia Tech. All games will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Series Breakdown
vs. UIC
vs. Saint Francis
vs. UConn
vs. Georgia Tech
UNT returns seven of its position player starters and its top two pitching options, including Conference USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Ashley Peters. Last season, Peters posted career-best marks with 20 wins over 172.2 innings, recording a 2.43 ERA, 156 strikeouts and 1.11 WHIP.
The Mean Green were selected to finish first in C-USA, according to the preseason coaches poll in which UNT collected 99 points and nine of 10 first place votes. Five North Texas players were named to the league's preseason all-conference team after advancing to the program's first-ever berth to the NCAA Regionals last season. The experienced squad added eight newcomers, featuring three D-I transfers.
During the five-team tournament, from Feb. 10-12, the Mean Green will match up with UIC, Saint Francis, UConn and twice against hosts Georgia Tech. All games will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Series Breakdown
vs. UIC
- North Texas will open the tournament versus UIC at 8 a.m. CT on Friday.
- The contest will mark the first meeting between the two programs.
- The Flames finished with a 13-32 record in 2022.
vs. Saint Francis
- The Mean Green meet the Red Flash in the second game of a doubleheader at 10:30 a.m. CT on Friday.
- UNT is 1-1 all-time versus Saint Francis, splitting a doubleheader on March 1, 2017, in Denton.
- The Red Flash posted a 37-18 record last season and won its conference, advancing to the Blacksburg Regional.
vs. UConn
- UNT will face UConn at 10:30 a.m. CT on Saturday.
- North Texas lost the only meeting between the teams on March 13, 2018, in Denton.
- The Huskies finished 38-18, dropping the BIG EAST Championship game.
vs. Georgia Tech
- The Mean Green takes on host Georgia Tech on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT and Sunday at 1 p.m. CT to close out the three-day tournament.
- UNT is 1-1 all-time with the last meeting on April 9-10, 2016, in Lawrence, Kan.
- The Yellow Jackets were 38-18 in 2023 en route to a regional berth in Gainesville.
- Head coach Rodney DeLong has never faced any of the teams at the Buzz Classic. All previous games against these opponents were played under former UNT head coach Tracey Kee.
UNT returns seven of its position player starters and its top two pitching options, including Conference USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Ashley Peters. Last season, Peters posted career-best marks with 20 wins over 172.2 innings, recording a 2.43 ERA, 156 strikeouts and 1.11 WHIP.
The Mean Green were selected to finish first in C-USA, according to the preseason coaches poll in which UNT collected 99 points and nine of 10 first place votes. Five North Texas players were named to the league's preseason all-conference team after advancing to the program's first-ever berth to the NCAA Regionals last season. The experienced squad added eight newcomers, featuring three D-I transfers.
Players Mentioned
LHP
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