Tournament Schedule (all times CT)
Feb. 6: vs. Maryland at 1 p.m. and at No. 6 Texas at 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 7: vs. Lamar at 11:30 a.m. and vs. A&M-Corpus Christi at 2 p.m.
Feb. 8: at No. 6 Texas at 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 9: vs. Colorado State at 10 a.m.
 
WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State softball team begins its 47th varsity season by traveling to Austin, Texas to compete in the Texas Classic from Feb. 6-9 at the Red and Charlie McCombs Field.
 
Preseason Predictions
The Shockers were picked to finish second in the Preseason American Athletic Conference Coaches' Poll. The Shockers bring back a bulk of their roster that includes 2019 All-Conference selections: Madison Perrigan (First Team), Ryleigh Buck (First Team), Sydney McKinney (First Team, All-Rookie Team) and Erin McDonald (Second Team). Wichita State also welcomes back redshirt senior Bailey Lange who missed almost all of her senior campaign due to injury.
 
Scouting the Field
 
Maryland
Maryland went 20-31 last season and ended the season on an eight-game losing streak. Over the offseason, they hired Louisiana Tech head coach Mark Montgomery following a 45-16 season where they won the C-USA regular season and tournament titles. Montgomery inherits a roster that returns 14 players from last year's team, including two All-Big Ten honorees in redshirt junior outfielder Micaela Abbatine and junior infielder Sammie Stefan. Abbatine was a staple in the outfield and produced on defense with only one error and a .986 fielding percentage. Stefan hit .299 last season with 43 hits and 33 RBIs while leading the team in home runs (7) and doubles (11).
 
Series History
This will be the first meeting between Maryland and Wichita State.
 
Texas
The Longhorns advanced to the Tuscaloosa Super Regional last year after winning 46 games. They forced a third game against Alabama before bowing out of the tournament after an 8-5 loss. Texas returns 14 players from last year's team, which accounts for over 80% of their runs and 78% of their innings pitched. Among the returners are three 2019 All-Americans, senior pitcher Miranda Elish, junior second baseman Janae Jefferson and sophomore pitcher Shealyn O'Leary. Elish and O'Leary combined for 32 wins last season and O'Leary led Division 1 in ERA last season with a 0.65 mark. Jefferson hit .408 and had 80 hits and 23 RBIs.
 
Series History
This will be the eighth meeting all-time between the Longhorns and the Shockers. Texas leads the series 4-3 
 
Last Meeting
This is the second time in three seasons that the Shockers have faced the Longhorns on the road. The last match occurred in 2018 and Wichita State picked up a big 7-5 win over Texas. 
 
Lamar
The Lady Cardinals only went 23-34 last season, but they return 12 players and welcome two junior college transfers they hope will have an immediate impact in Hannah Carpenter and Shelby Mixon. The Cardinals had one player on the Southland Preseason First-Team, senior pitcher/infielder Jade Lewis. She had a .313 batting average and picked up two saves on the pitching mound in 2019.
 
Series History
This will be the first meeting between Lamar and Wichita State.
 
A&M Corpus-Christi
The Islanders won eight games last season and hired new head coach Kristen Zaleski from Temple College. Zaleski compiled a 237-47 record at Temple and won five conference titles at the junior college level. Texas A&M Corpus Christi sophomore utility player Sammi Thomas was named to the Southland Preseason Second-Team. Thomas hit .248 last season and led the team with seven home runs and was second on the team with 17 RBIs.  
 
Series History
This will be the eighth meeting between Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Wichita State. The Islanders hold the advantage in the series with a 5-2 mark.
 
Last Meeting
The teams last met at the Getterman Classic in 2015. The Shockers picked up both of their all-time wins in this tournament with two close wins, 3-2 in the first and 9-8 in the second.
 
Colorado State
The Rams took home the Mountain West title for the first time since 2004 and won a program record 39 games last season. They beat Harvard for their first NCAA Tournament win since 1997 but were run-ruled by Auburn to end the season. They return 12 players, which includes two first-team all-conference selections in senior first baseman Ashley Ruiz and junior outfielder Tara Shadowen, and a second-team member in junior outfielder Ashley Michelena. Ruiz finished the year with a .386 BA with 49 hits and 11 home runs, Shadowen hit .352 and led the team with 14 homers and 39 RBIs, and Michelena started all 51 games while hitting .341 in lead-off.
 
Series History
This will be the 12th meeting between Colorado State and Wichita State. The Rams lead the series by one win with a 6-5 edge.
 
Last Meeting
At two neutral site games at the Aggie Classic in 2016, the Shockers shutout the Rams in the first game of the season, 3-0, and later won an extra innings affair two games later, 9-8(8).
 
Tournament Updates
For updates during the games, follow @GoShockersSB on Twitter. Live stats will be available here and the matches will be available for viewing on the Longhorn Network. A recap will be posted on GoShockers.com after the conclusion of all the games on each day.
 
Up Next
The Shockers will travel back down to Central Texas next week to compete in the Bobcat Classic in San Marcos, Texas from Feb. 14-16 where they will face Saint Louis, UTSA and Texas State.