The Shocks head to Denton for the University of North Texas-hosted Sleep Inn Classic this weekend.
They play Central Arkansas and Butler on Friday, Missouri State and Iowa State on Saturday and North Texas on Sunday.
The Central Arkansas Bears are members of the Southland Conference and were a preseason pick for tenth of eleven spots. They return four players from a team that was 6-43 a year ago. (Not too surprisingly, they have a new head coach.) They are 4-6 this season.
The Butler Bulldogs are members of the Horizon League and were picked seventh out of nine places in the preseason poll. This tournament opens their season.
Missouri State was a preseason pick for sixth in the Valley and are 2-3 this season.
Iowa State was picked last of the ten schools playing softball in the Big 12. They are 9-1 this year, winning a tournament hosted by Bradley (5-3 winners against the Braves) and going 5-1 in a triple round-robin at Jacksonville.
The University of North Texas Mean Green are members of the Sun Belt Conference are preseason picks for fifth of nine teams. They are 3-2 (pending a DH they are playing today) this season. At a tournament in Corpus Christi, they lost twice to Creighton (1-5, 3-4) and beat Indiana State (2-1).
This tournament is definitely a step down strength-wise from their two previous tournaments. None of these teams have played in a tournament the quality of the two the Shockers have played in.
They play Central Arkansas and Butler on Friday, Missouri State and Iowa State on Saturday and North Texas on Sunday.
The Central Arkansas Bears are members of the Southland Conference and were a preseason pick for tenth of eleven spots. They return four players from a team that was 6-43 a year ago. (Not too surprisingly, they have a new head coach.) They are 4-6 this season.
The Butler Bulldogs are members of the Horizon League and were picked seventh out of nine places in the preseason poll. This tournament opens their season.
Missouri State was a preseason pick for sixth in the Valley and are 2-3 this season.
Iowa State was picked last of the ten schools playing softball in the Big 12. They are 9-1 this year, winning a tournament hosted by Bradley (5-3 winners against the Braves) and going 5-1 in a triple round-robin at Jacksonville.
The University of North Texas Mean Green are members of the Sun Belt Conference are preseason picks for fifth of nine teams. They are 3-2 (pending a DH they are playing today) this season. At a tournament in Corpus Christi, they lost twice to Creighton (1-5, 3-4) and beat Indiana State (2-1).
This tournament is definitely a step down strength-wise from their two previous tournaments. None of these teams have played in a tournament the quality of the two the Shockers have played in.
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