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Softball

Wildcats open 2021 at the Miner Invitational

EL PASO, Texas – The Wildcats long awaited start of the 2021 season is less than 24 hours away. While the much anticipated home tournament originally scheduled to open their season had to be canceled due to inclement weather, it's still an exciting time for a program itching to prove themselves. Last season was the first of the Farler era and it ended abruptly when sports around the country were canceled due to the pandemic. The Wildcats have a solid group of upperclassmen that have helped usher the program into this new era and with the addition of Coach Farler's first recruiting class, the team is ready to get back to work. 

The team will have a tough test ahead in the first weekend as they now play at UTEP for four games, two against the hosting Miners and two against preseason No. 4 Oklahoma. The Wildcats played Oklahoma closely last season, falling 2-4. This team is not taking the opportunity to play for granted, and even though they won't get to open at home they are primed and ready to play with energy and excitement as they return to the field. 

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Tournament Schedule

Miner Invitational

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WILDCATS STORYLINES

  • The Wildcats return all but two starters from a season ago. 
  • Samantha Bradley was named to the Southland Conference preseason first-team as a designated player.
  • ACU finished last season with a 7-17, 0-3 record playing all but two of their games on the road. 
  • The team was picked to finish ninth in the Southland preseason poll out of 12 teams. 
  • With the addition of two JUCO transfers and six freshmen who are all expected to contribute, the team is deeper than in previous seasons. 

SCOUTING THE MINERS

  • UTEP returns 12 players while adding 11 freshmen to a team who finished 5-17 in 2020.
  • Kasey Flores was the lone Miner to be selected to the Conference USA preseason team.
  • The Miners hit .275 as a team in 2020 and totaled 20 homeruns as a team.
  • UTEP had an 8.30 team ERA in 2020 allowing 172 runs opposed to scoring just 78 of their own.
  • This will be the first meeting between UTEP and ACU.

SCOUTING THE SOONERS

  • The No. 4 Sooners are coming off a 20-4 record which included one win over the Wildcats, 4-2. 
  • Oklahoma has won the WCWS four times and most recently fell to the No. 2 UCLA Bruins in the last trip to the series in 2019. 
  • The Sooners have three players who were named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist - Jocelyn Alo, Giselle Suarez, and Nicole Mendes. 
  • Oklahoma was a nightmare for opposing pitchers last season, hitting .317 with 34 homeruns. 
  • Oklahoma holds a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series with ACU.