DENTON, Texas (10/29/09) - The University of North Texas has announced its 2010 softball schedule which features the annual Sleep Inn Classic and home games against Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma.
Under head coach T.J. Hubbard, the Mean Green has 17 home dates in 2010, including the three-day, seven-team Sleep Inn Classic. North Texas hosts the Sleep Inn Classic along with TWU on February 19-21. Drake, Arkansas, Colorado State, Buffalo, Missouri State and Sam Houston State will all compete in the tournament.
The Mean Green continues to play against the top teams in the Big 12. North Texas will host Texas for the first time in school history on March 16. NT will also face Texas Tech (March 1) and Oklahoma (May 6) at home. On the road, the Mean Green will have away series against Oklahoma State (Feb. 23), Oklahoma (March 10) and Baylor (April 7).
“Lovelace Stadium is a great softball venue and hosting a regular-season tournament gives us a chance to showcase our facilities,” said Hubbard. “We are also able to bring in quality opponents like Texas and Oklahoma, which is a testament to our growing program and facility.”
North Texas opens the spring season by traveling to Itta Bena, Miss. to play against Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 11. The Mean Green then heads to Starkville, Miss. to compete in the Mississippi State University Tournament, where the team will play Stephen F. Austin, Alabama-Birmingham and Mississippi State on Feb. 12-14.
After away dates against SFA on Feb. 17 and Oklahoma State on Feb. 23, the Mean Green rounds out tournament play with the UTSA Tournament in San Antonio (Feb. 26-28). The Mean Green played in the UTSA Tournament in 2004 and 2005.
For the third straight year, North Texas will host two charity games. The Strikeout Cancer Game is set for March 24 against UTA and the Play For Kay Day (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) is scheduled for April 14 against Texas State.
The Mean Green begins Sun Belt conference play with an away series against ULM on March 13 and 14. North Texas will open conference play at home on March 20-21 against South Alabama. Other Sun Belt foes making their way to Denton include Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. USA will host the conference tournament on May 12-15.
North Texas returns 15 letterwinners, senior pitchers Ashley Lail and Kayla Lawson and all-conference players Mariza Martinez and Mallory Cantler. The Mean Green finished the 2009 season with a 26-28 record and an 11-12 mark in Sun Belt Conference play.
Click here for complete schedule
Courtesy: Rick Yeatts
