University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, February 16
Huntsville, TX
9 am
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Seton Hall
Preview: @bearssoftball Looks to Keep Pitching and Hitting at a High Level in Texas
2/15/2018 2:02:00 PM | Softball
UNC will take on four teams, including No. 4 Washington this weekend
GREELEY, Colo.-Â After an encouraging first week, Northern Colorado softball will stay on the road and travel to Huntsville, Texas for the Bearkat Softball Classic. UNC will play five games in the tournament, headlined by a matchup against No. 4 Washington. The Bears will also play Wichita State, Seton Hall, and Sam Houston State.
UNC is coming off of a 3-2 weekend at the Total Control Softball Tournament, with wins over Loyola, Wright State, and IUPUI. The pitching staff was effective for the Bears, posting a 2.33 ERA in the games with one shutout.
Valerie Vidal went the distance against Loyola, allowing only three hits, striking out five, and surrendering one walk. For the tournament, Vidal had a 2-1 record, with a 1.24 ERA, and 12 strikeouts to only two walks. Vidal earned Big Sky Pitcher of the Week honors for her performance in Rosemont.
The offense opened the season with some strong performances, scoring 44 runs in the five games that ranks first in the Big Sky. UNC also ranks first in the Big Sky with a .297 batting average. Jordyn Wiatrak leads the Bears with a .429 average and six RBIs. Wiatrak had three multi-hit games over the weekend and recorded a .571 slugging percentage.
Freshman Mady Young had an impressive showing in her first tournament as a Bear, recording a .417 average, scoring four runs, and tallying five walks for a .588 on-base percentage. Lauren Paige started off her season with an impressive 4-for-4 game against Loyola, including her first home run of the season. Paige was also good in the circle for UNC, pitching six innings in relief without allowing a run.
Despite the production from the lineup, the offense was inconsistent during the first weekend of the season. UNC was shutout by both Eastern Kentucky and DePaul, with the Blue Demons holding the Bears without a hit.
There were definitely encouraging signs from the Bears and they showed their ability to perform well in all three aspects of the game. UNC hopes to continue its strong pitching and explosive offense this weekend in Huntsville.
Scouting Seton Hall
Seton Hall started the season in the UT-San Antonio Softball Classic and went 3-1. The Pirates defeated Abilene Christian to open the tournament and split games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. They would then defeat host UTSA and the final game against Southern Illinois was canceled. Sophomore outfielder Hailey Arteaga was almost unstoppable for the Pirates, batting .636 with two home runs and six RBIs. In the circle, sophomore Reganne Camp pitched two complete games and had one shutout to open her season. Camp had a 0.50 ERA in 14 innings pitched, with 16 strikeouts to only one walk allowed.
The game will be the first-ever meeting between Northern Colorado and Seton Hall.
Scouting Washington
Washington enters the weekend as the No. 4 team in the nation and started the season with a 5-0 record. The Huskies outscored their opponents 70-3 in the Peterson Hotels Invitational, dominating Saint Louis, Bradley, Miami (OH), and Western Illinois. As a team, Washington has already hit 16 home runs, with senior infielder Kirstyn Thomas leading the way with five. Thomas is also leading the team with 16 RBIs and a .688 batting average. Along with Thomas, senior outfielder Amirah Milloy and sophomore infielder Sis Bates are hitting a blistering average, with Milloy at .625 and Bates .667. Junior Taran Alvelo has been the ace for the Huskies, with a 3-0 record and two shutouts already this season. Alvelo is limiting opponents to a .089 average while having a 27-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Northern Colorado and Washington will meet for the first time in history this weekend.Â
Scouting Wichita State
The Shockers started the 2018 season with a 2-2 record, after playing in the Plainsman Invite. Wichita State lost a 2-0 game to No. 13 Auburn, before picking up wins against Tennessee Tech and Marshall. They would then lose a close game to Furman, 7-8. Redshirt-sophomore outfielder Paige Luellen leads Wichita State with a .308 average and freshman outfielder Bailee Nickerson is right behind her with a .300 average. Nickerson also leads the team with five home runs and nine RBIs. Junior Bailey Lange has been the workhorse for the Shockers with four appearances and a 3.32 ERA in 19 innings pitched, including two complete games.
Northern Colorado and Wichita State last played each other in 2013, with the Shockers winning two games after the third game was canceled.
Scouting Sam Houston State
The Bearkats have started the season with a 1-3 record after their first appearance in the Bobcat Classic. Sam Houston State lost a pair of games to host Texas State and split games against fellow Big Sky opponent Portland State. The Bearkats have struggled on offense so far, only scoring 10 runs in the four games. Redshirt-sophomore infielder Taylar Fuselier has been the best hitter for the Bearkats, with a .364 average. Junior Lindsey McLeod has been effective for Sam Houston State, with a 1.62 ERA, but has yet to record a win.
The two games between Northern Colorado and Sam Houston State will be the first meeting between the teams.
Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will open the Bearkat Softball Classic against Seton Hall on Friday, Feb. 16th at 9 am MT followed by Washington at 11:15 am that same day. The Bears are back on the field on Saturday, Feb. 17th to play Wichita State at 9 am and then host Sam Houston State at 3:45 pm. The tournament concludes for UNC with another game against Sam Houston State on Sunday, Feb. 18th at 11:15 A.M.
The Feb. 17th game against Sam Houston State will be streamed live on ESPN3.com with a paid subscription. Live stats will be provided by Sam Houston State University for all of UNC's games this weekend. Follow the games live on twitter for live updates with @bearssoftball.
UNC is coming off of a 3-2 weekend at the Total Control Softball Tournament, with wins over Loyola, Wright State, and IUPUI. The pitching staff was effective for the Bears, posting a 2.33 ERA in the games with one shutout.
Valerie Vidal went the distance against Loyola, allowing only three hits, striking out five, and surrendering one walk. For the tournament, Vidal had a 2-1 record, with a 1.24 ERA, and 12 strikeouts to only two walks. Vidal earned Big Sky Pitcher of the Week honors for her performance in Rosemont.
The offense opened the season with some strong performances, scoring 44 runs in the five games that ranks first in the Big Sky. UNC also ranks first in the Big Sky with a .297 batting average. Jordyn Wiatrak leads the Bears with a .429 average and six RBIs. Wiatrak had three multi-hit games over the weekend and recorded a .571 slugging percentage.
Freshman Mady Young had an impressive showing in her first tournament as a Bear, recording a .417 average, scoring four runs, and tallying five walks for a .588 on-base percentage. Lauren Paige started off her season with an impressive 4-for-4 game against Loyola, including her first home run of the season. Paige was also good in the circle for UNC, pitching six innings in relief without allowing a run.
Despite the production from the lineup, the offense was inconsistent during the first weekend of the season. UNC was shutout by both Eastern Kentucky and DePaul, with the Blue Demons holding the Bears without a hit.
There were definitely encouraging signs from the Bears and they showed their ability to perform well in all three aspects of the game. UNC hopes to continue its strong pitching and explosive offense this weekend in Huntsville.
Scouting Seton Hall
Seton Hall started the season in the UT-San Antonio Softball Classic and went 3-1. The Pirates defeated Abilene Christian to open the tournament and split games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. They would then defeat host UTSA and the final game against Southern Illinois was canceled. Sophomore outfielder Hailey Arteaga was almost unstoppable for the Pirates, batting .636 with two home runs and six RBIs. In the circle, sophomore Reganne Camp pitched two complete games and had one shutout to open her season. Camp had a 0.50 ERA in 14 innings pitched, with 16 strikeouts to only one walk allowed.
The game will be the first-ever meeting between Northern Colorado and Seton Hall.
Scouting Washington
Washington enters the weekend as the No. 4 team in the nation and started the season with a 5-0 record. The Huskies outscored their opponents 70-3 in the Peterson Hotels Invitational, dominating Saint Louis, Bradley, Miami (OH), and Western Illinois. As a team, Washington has already hit 16 home runs, with senior infielder Kirstyn Thomas leading the way with five. Thomas is also leading the team with 16 RBIs and a .688 batting average. Along with Thomas, senior outfielder Amirah Milloy and sophomore infielder Sis Bates are hitting a blistering average, with Milloy at .625 and Bates .667. Junior Taran Alvelo has been the ace for the Huskies, with a 3-0 record and two shutouts already this season. Alvelo is limiting opponents to a .089 average while having a 27-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Northern Colorado and Washington will meet for the first time in history this weekend.Â
Scouting Wichita State
The Shockers started the 2018 season with a 2-2 record, after playing in the Plainsman Invite. Wichita State lost a 2-0 game to No. 13 Auburn, before picking up wins against Tennessee Tech and Marshall. They would then lose a close game to Furman, 7-8. Redshirt-sophomore outfielder Paige Luellen leads Wichita State with a .308 average and freshman outfielder Bailee Nickerson is right behind her with a .300 average. Nickerson also leads the team with five home runs and nine RBIs. Junior Bailey Lange has been the workhorse for the Shockers with four appearances and a 3.32 ERA in 19 innings pitched, including two complete games.
Northern Colorado and Wichita State last played each other in 2013, with the Shockers winning two games after the third game was canceled.
Scouting Sam Houston State
The Bearkats have started the season with a 1-3 record after their first appearance in the Bobcat Classic. Sam Houston State lost a pair of games to host Texas State and split games against fellow Big Sky opponent Portland State. The Bearkats have struggled on offense so far, only scoring 10 runs in the four games. Redshirt-sophomore infielder Taylar Fuselier has been the best hitter for the Bearkats, with a .364 average. Junior Lindsey McLeod has been effective for Sam Houston State, with a 1.62 ERA, but has yet to record a win.
The two games between Northern Colorado and Sam Houston State will be the first meeting between the teams.
Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will open the Bearkat Softball Classic against Seton Hall on Friday, Feb. 16th at 9 am MT followed by Washington at 11:15 am that same day. The Bears are back on the field on Saturday, Feb. 17th to play Wichita State at 9 am and then host Sam Houston State at 3:45 pm. The tournament concludes for UNC with another game against Sam Houston State on Sunday, Feb. 18th at 11:15 A.M.
The Feb. 17th game against Sam Houston State will be streamed live on ESPN3.com with a paid subscription. Live stats will be provided by Sam Houston State University for all of UNC's games this weekend. Follow the games live on twitter for live updates with @bearssoftball.
Players Mentioned
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