University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, February 8
College Station, TX
9 am
University of Northern Colorado
vs
North Texas
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
@BearsSoftball Starts the 2019 Season at the Aggie Classic
2/6/2019 1:34:00 PM | Softball
Northern Colorado will travel to College Station for five games, including two against No. 20 Texas A&M
The 2019 season is here for Northern Colorado softball, as the team starts out on the road at the Aggie Classic. UNC will play a pair of games against host Texas A&M in College Station, TX, along with matchups against North Texas and California Baptist.
UNC was selected to finish fifth in the Big Sky and received a first place vote, with defending Sacramento State earning the other first place votes.
"I'm excited to see where we are as a team," new head coach Ben Garcia said. "It's nice to get out and play some other schools. The key for us is to build and get better every game. It will be nice to see everyone do their part. The excitement for the girls and the coaching staff is what can we improve to get where we want to be."
2018 Recap
UNC qualified for the Big Sky Tournament for the first time since 2014 and was a regional host in the National Invitational Tournament.
The Bears finished with a 28-28 record and 8-9 in Big Sky games to finish sixth in the regular season.
In the conference tournament, UNC upset No. 3 Weber State and the No. 3 North Dakota to advance to what ended up being the championship game. The Bears dropped the game to regular-season champion, Sac State.Â
New Era
Garcia enters his first season as head coach of the Bears after Shana Easley departed the program for Arkansas. Garcia brings a wealth of experience to Greeley after coaching the last four seasons at Colorado Mesa. During Garcia's tenure at Mesa, the program had unprecedented success, winning the RMAC title and qualifying for the NCAA tournament the last three seasons. The Mavericks were ranked No. 1 in the nation for seven consecutive weeks in 2018, propelling Garcia to RMAC Coach of the Year honors.
The Bears will return six starters and eight letterwinners overall, while adding 13 newcomers to the roster.
"What we're trying to do is be the best defensive team we can," Garcia explained. "We think that the hitting will come around as we play. I really emphasize that defense will get us to where we need to be. That will be our building block. If we can play the best defense we're capable of by making all the routine plays and not beat ourselves; we will be successful."
At the Plate
The Bears will have an experienced outfield heading into 2019 with Kenzie Kudrna, Madi Schmidt and Cheyenne Talmadge. The trio has combined for 281 career starts and has appeared in 381 games. Schmidt led the team with four triples last season and was second with a .316 batting average, while being third with 29 runs scored.
Shaena Robinson and Taylor Renaud transferred to UNC this season will add to the outfield depth, along with freshman Katie Simonsgaard.
All-Big Sky first team selection Jordyn Wiatrak returns for UNC after leading the team with a .336 batting average last season. The senior was tied for first on the team with 29 RBIs and second with five home runs.
Emma Brockmann will return behind the plate for her sophomore season after recording a .959 fielding percentage and catching nine base runners stealing last season. Brockmann finished tied for the team lead with RBIs and second on the team with 12 doubles. UNC adds sophomore transfer Maddee Blood-Smyth to give its back-up catcher.
Sophomores Mady Young and Natalie Joyner will handle the middle infield for the Bears, with Young staying at shortstop and Joyner taking over second base. Young led UNC with 16 stolen bases last year and was also tied for first with 32 runs scored, while batting .288.
Freshman Dani Young and Iowa transfer Taylor Libby will start at first at third respectively. Two other freshman, Hailee Swanson and Alyssa Huerta, will provide depth for the infield.
In the Circle
UNC has their ace back for 2019 as Valerie Vidal returns to the circle after an outstanding 2018 season. Vidal was named to the All-Big Sky second team after having an 18-12 record with a 2.86 ERA in 215.1 innings pitched. Vidal also had a UNC record seven shutouts and the first seven-inning, no-hitter in program history, along with a record 162 strikeouts. Vidal was named Big Sky Pitcher of the Week two straight weeks to open last season.
The Bears staff will be bolstered by a trio freshman, with Taylor Puga, Maggie Thurston and Lindsay Holloway joining the pitching staff.
"This weekend will be a big test, playing some really good teams," Garcia added. "North Texas is good and Texas A&M is ranked in the top-20. We know that they deserve that. We want to go in and be able to play with them and see how we compare."
Scouting Mean Green
North Texas is coming of a 25-27 season in 2018 and 11-12 mark in Conference USA games. The Mean Green were selected to finish fourth in the conference's preseason poll. Junior outfielder Katie Clark, sophomore pitcher Hope Trautwein and junior infielder Lacy Gregory were named to the Preseason All-CUSA Team. All three were All-Conference Second Team members last season.
Northern Colorado played North Texas twice back in 2004, dropping both games, 7-9 and 3-11
Scouting the Aggies
Texas A&M season starts the season as the No. 20 ranked team in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches and ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll in head coach Jo Evans 23rd season. The Aggies have made appearances in the Super Regional the last two seasons, losing last season to No. 2 Florida. In 2018, Texas A&M went 44-18 and was sixth in the SEC with a 13-11 record. The team
returns one starter and nine letterwinners, while adding 10 new players.
UNC last played Texas A&M in 2010, with the Aggies winning two games against the Bears 0-7 and 1-11 in College Station.
Scouting the Lancers
California Baptist moves up to Division I in 2019, after a 36-13 record in last season in DII. The Lancers will be true road warriors this season, playing 40 of their 53 games away from home. Junior infielder Hannah Thieroff ranked in the top-20 last season with 16 home runs, a .523 on-base percentage, and a .874 slugging percentage.
This weekend's game will be the first matchup between the two programs.
Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will open the 2019 season against North Texas on Friday, Feb. 8th at 9 am MST. Later that day, UNC will play host Texas A&M at 4:15 pm. On Saturday, Feb. 9th, the Bears will start off against California Baptist at 9 am, immediately followed by game two against Texas A&M at 11:15. The tournament wraps up for UNC on Sunday, Feb. 10th at 9 am against North Texas.
Both of Northern Colorado's games against Texas A&M will be streamed live on SEC Network +. Live stats will be available for all games through 12thman.com. Follow the games live on Twitter with @BearsSoftball.
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UNC was selected to finish fifth in the Big Sky and received a first place vote, with defending Sacramento State earning the other first place votes.
"I'm excited to see where we are as a team," new head coach Ben Garcia said. "It's nice to get out and play some other schools. The key for us is to build and get better every game. It will be nice to see everyone do their part. The excitement for the girls and the coaching staff is what can we improve to get where we want to be."
2018 Recap
UNC qualified for the Big Sky Tournament for the first time since 2014 and was a regional host in the National Invitational Tournament.
The Bears finished with a 28-28 record and 8-9 in Big Sky games to finish sixth in the regular season.
In the conference tournament, UNC upset No. 3 Weber State and the No. 3 North Dakota to advance to what ended up being the championship game. The Bears dropped the game to regular-season champion, Sac State.Â
New Era
Garcia enters his first season as head coach of the Bears after Shana Easley departed the program for Arkansas. Garcia brings a wealth of experience to Greeley after coaching the last four seasons at Colorado Mesa. During Garcia's tenure at Mesa, the program had unprecedented success, winning the RMAC title and qualifying for the NCAA tournament the last three seasons. The Mavericks were ranked No. 1 in the nation for seven consecutive weeks in 2018, propelling Garcia to RMAC Coach of the Year honors.
The Bears will return six starters and eight letterwinners overall, while adding 13 newcomers to the roster.
"What we're trying to do is be the best defensive team we can," Garcia explained. "We think that the hitting will come around as we play. I really emphasize that defense will get us to where we need to be. That will be our building block. If we can play the best defense we're capable of by making all the routine plays and not beat ourselves; we will be successful."
At the Plate
The Bears will have an experienced outfield heading into 2019 with Kenzie Kudrna, Madi Schmidt and Cheyenne Talmadge. The trio has combined for 281 career starts and has appeared in 381 games. Schmidt led the team with four triples last season and was second with a .316 batting average, while being third with 29 runs scored.
Shaena Robinson and Taylor Renaud transferred to UNC this season will add to the outfield depth, along with freshman Katie Simonsgaard.
All-Big Sky first team selection Jordyn Wiatrak returns for UNC after leading the team with a .336 batting average last season. The senior was tied for first on the team with 29 RBIs and second with five home runs.
Emma Brockmann will return behind the plate for her sophomore season after recording a .959 fielding percentage and catching nine base runners stealing last season. Brockmann finished tied for the team lead with RBIs and second on the team with 12 doubles. UNC adds sophomore transfer Maddee Blood-Smyth to give its back-up catcher.
Sophomores Mady Young and Natalie Joyner will handle the middle infield for the Bears, with Young staying at shortstop and Joyner taking over second base. Young led UNC with 16 stolen bases last year and was also tied for first with 32 runs scored, while batting .288.
Freshman Dani Young and Iowa transfer Taylor Libby will start at first at third respectively. Two other freshman, Hailee Swanson and Alyssa Huerta, will provide depth for the infield.
In the Circle
UNC has their ace back for 2019 as Valerie Vidal returns to the circle after an outstanding 2018 season. Vidal was named to the All-Big Sky second team after having an 18-12 record with a 2.86 ERA in 215.1 innings pitched. Vidal also had a UNC record seven shutouts and the first seven-inning, no-hitter in program history, along with a record 162 strikeouts. Vidal was named Big Sky Pitcher of the Week two straight weeks to open last season.
The Bears staff will be bolstered by a trio freshman, with Taylor Puga, Maggie Thurston and Lindsay Holloway joining the pitching staff.
"This weekend will be a big test, playing some really good teams," Garcia added. "North Texas is good and Texas A&M is ranked in the top-20. We know that they deserve that. We want to go in and be able to play with them and see how we compare."
Scouting Mean Green
North Texas is coming of a 25-27 season in 2018 and 11-12 mark in Conference USA games. The Mean Green were selected to finish fourth in the conference's preseason poll. Junior outfielder Katie Clark, sophomore pitcher Hope Trautwein and junior infielder Lacy Gregory were named to the Preseason All-CUSA Team. All three were All-Conference Second Team members last season.
Northern Colorado played North Texas twice back in 2004, dropping both games, 7-9 and 3-11
Scouting the Aggies
Texas A&M season starts the season as the No. 20 ranked team in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches and ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll in head coach Jo Evans 23rd season. The Aggies have made appearances in the Super Regional the last two seasons, losing last season to No. 2 Florida. In 2018, Texas A&M went 44-18 and was sixth in the SEC with a 13-11 record. The team
returns one starter and nine letterwinners, while adding 10 new players.
UNC last played Texas A&M in 2010, with the Aggies winning two games against the Bears 0-7 and 1-11 in College Station.
Scouting the Lancers
California Baptist moves up to Division I in 2019, after a 36-13 record in last season in DII. The Lancers will be true road warriors this season, playing 40 of their 53 games away from home. Junior infielder Hannah Thieroff ranked in the top-20 last season with 16 home runs, a .523 on-base percentage, and a .874 slugging percentage.
This weekend's game will be the first matchup between the two programs.
Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will open the 2019 season against North Texas on Friday, Feb. 8th at 9 am MST. Later that day, UNC will play host Texas A&M at 4:15 pm. On Saturday, Feb. 9th, the Bears will start off against California Baptist at 9 am, immediately followed by game two against Texas A&M at 11:15. The tournament wraps up for UNC on Sunday, Feb. 10th at 9 am against North Texas.
Both of Northern Colorado's games against Texas A&M will be streamed live on SEC Network +. Live stats will be available for all games through 12thman.com. Follow the games live on Twitter with @BearsSoftball.
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