@BearsSoftball Gets Out of the Cold as They Travel to Puerto Vallarta

Thursday, February 14

Puerto Vallarta, Mex.

11:30 am

University of Northern Colorado

North Dakota State

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

2/13/2019 12:06:00 PM | Softball

Northern Colorado will play four games in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge this weekend

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

The season has just started for Northern Colorado softball and the team prepares for its second tournament of season. UNC will head south to play in the Puerto Vallerta College Challenge in Mexico, put on by Triple Crown Sports. In the tournament, the Bears will play games against North Dakota State, Southern Illinois, top-15 ranked Arkansas, along with UCF.

UNC started the season at the Aggie Classic, hosted by Texas A&M, going 1-4 in the tournament. UNC defeated California Baptist 6-1, while dropping both games against the Aggies and North Texas.

During the first weekend of competition, three Bears hit their first home runs as Natalie Joyner, Dani Young and Shaena Robinson all went yard. Joyner hit a two-run home run in the win over California Baptist while Young had a solo homer in the second game against Texas
A&M. After transferring to UNC, Robinson hit a two-run home run in the tournament-finale against North Texas.

Early in the season, Northern Colorado is currently second in the Big Sky with three home runs.

Kenzie Kudrna hit well in College Station, going five-for-13 with three runs scored and two walks. Kudrna is tied for ninth in the conference with a .385 batting average.

Mady Young had a solid weekend at the plate, going three-for-12, with two doubles and one run scored. In the field, Young continues to improve at shortstop and is leading the Big Sky with 16 assists.

Valerie Vidal had a busy weekend at the Aggie Classic, starting four of the five games for UNC. Vidal went 1-3 and finished with a 6.11 ERA in 17.2 innings of work. In total, Vidal gave up 24 runs, but only 12 of them were earned. Vidal had some difficulty with her command, walking 11 while striking out eight.

The young Bears will look to continue to improve this weekend in Mexico with qualify competition on the schedule.

Scouting the Bison
North Dakota State opened the season at the Texas Bobcat Classic, going 3-1 in the tournament. The Bison picked up wins against UTSA and Abilene Christian, while splitting games with host Texas State. Head coach Darren Mueller enters his 18^th season coaching NDSU and returns eight starters, with 12 letterwinners overall returning. Junior center fielder Madyson Camacho has been swinging the bat well early with a .400 average, with six hits and two RBIs.

UNC and NDSU last played in 2017, with the Bears winning 4-2.

Scouting the Salukis
Southern Illinois started its season in Hammond, LA for the Classic, hosted by Southeastern Louisiana. During the tournament, the Salukis went 3-2, with wins over San Jose State and Mississippi Valley State. They split gems against Nicholls State and lost to Southeastern Louisiana. Kerri Blaylock starts her 20^th season as head coach, with eight starters and 13 letterwinners overall returning for the Salukis. Senior Brianna Jones has found success early in the circle for Southern Illinois, recording a 2-1 record with a 1.91 ERA in 14.2 innings of work, while striking out 16 and walking three.

It will be a familiar match-up between Northern Colorado and Southern Illinois, as the two team played in 2015 also in Puerto Vallarta. The game was a slugfest that ended in a 10-10 tie.

Scouting the Razorbacks
Head coach Courtney Deifel starts her fourth season as head coach and has nine starters and 14 letterwinners overall returning. Arkansas enters the weekend as the No. 11 team in the USA Today/NFCA Division I poll and No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Softball Poll. The Razorbacks are 5-0 to start the season and have outscored their opponents 32-4. Senior infielder Ashley Diazhas leads the Razorbacks with seven hits this season, including four doubles and has 11 RBIs. In the circle, sophomore Mary Haff has been dominate, pitching three complete game, shutouts to open the season, while recording 28 strikeouts to only one walk.

Northern Colorado and Arkansas faced off twice last season in Fayetteville, with the Bears dropping both games. In the second game, Haff outdueled Vidal in a 1-0 defeat for UNC. The Bears former head coach Shana Easley is now a volunteer assistant coach for the Razorbacks.

Scouting the Knights
Central Florida started their season by hosting the Friends of Jaclyn Tournament, going 2-2 in the opening weekend. The Knights defeated No. 24 Ohio State, 3-2, and George Mason, 7-0. UCF dropped games against No. 21 Minnesota, 0-7, and Ole Miss, 0-3. Junior Alea White has been strong in the circle for the Knights early in the season, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.50 ERA in 14 innings. White has thrown two complete games, while strikeout out 10 batters and walking five.

The Bears last played UCF in 2012, falling in the game 5-4.

Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will travel to Puerto Vallarta this weekend to play four games in the Puerto Vallarta Challenge, put on by Triple Crown Sports. UNC will start off on Thursday, Feb. 14 against North Dakota State at 11:30 MST. On Friday, Feb. 15, the Bears will play Southern Illinois at 11:30 am and Arkansas at 2 pm. UNC will wrap its tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 16 against UCF at 9 am.

Each game can be streamed live on FlowSoftball.com and live stats will be available through UNCBears.com. Follow each game on Twitter with @BearsSoftball.