North Texas (18-7, 1-2) at Wichita State (11-12, 0-3)
March 14-16, 2025
Friday, March 14 | 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 15 | 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 16 | 12:00 PM
Wichita, Kan. | Wilkins Stadium
Video: ESPN+
Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 

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Friday Promotions
Student Pi Day Pizza Giveaway: WSU students receive free pizza on Pi Day!
Educator Appreciation Day: All educators receive free admission when they show their employee ID at the ticket office!

Saturday Promotions
St. Patty's Celebration
Giveaway: The first lucky 250 fans will receive a Wichita State shamrock logo pint glass

Sunday Promotions
316 Day: Shocker Softball is celebrating all our loyal fans in the 316 for 3-16! All GA tickets are only $3.16!
Sunday Runday
 

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QUICK HITS
• Wichita State welcomes North Texas to Wilkins Stadium for its home-opening conference series of the season.
• Wichita State snapped a 5-game losing streak on Wednesday with a road win at Kansas, 7-3.
• The Shockers were swept at #24 Florida Atlantic last weekend, marking the first conference sweep since 2015 vs. Southern Illinois.
• Wichita State started the season 5-0 for the first time since 1994 and just the third time in program history. The Shockers' 5-0 weekend in Phoenix also marked the first time since 2021 the Shockers have gone 5-0 at an early season tournament.
• Lauren Lucas was named AAC Player of the Week on Feb. 10.
• Wichita State will face 12 NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago, which includes eight in the opening month of the season (Grand Canyon, Kentucky, Texas A&M, San Diego State, Liberty, Florida State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Missouri).
• Wichita State has made it to the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years. The 2024 Shockers came up just short of an NCAA Regional, snapping a streak of three straight appearances.
• A pair of redshirt seniors return to the lineup in 2025 after missing all of the 2024 season due to injuries in Lauren Lucas and Camryn Compton.
• Lucas was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100, sliding in at No. 78.
Freshman pitcher Ava Sliger was named to the D1Softball D100 Freshman Watch List.
• Sliger and freshman teammate Ryley Nihart were named to the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
• The Shockers bring back only two pitchers that recorded innings in 2024: Chloe Barber (Sophomore, AAC All-Rookie Team) and Alex Aguilar (Junior, 2023 AAC Rookie of the Year).
• Wichita State was picked to win the American Athletic Conference in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
• In total, Wichita State returns four starters and 11 letterwinners from a season ago.
• Nine newcomers (six freshman, three transfers) join the team in 2025.
• Bredbenner recorded her 400th career win at Wichita State on Feb. 23 vs. Abilene Christian. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history.

SCOUTING NORTH TEXAS
North Texas comes into the weekend series at 18-7 and 1-2 after its conference opening weekend against Charlotte. After winning the series opener vs. the Niners, Charlotte responded with an 8-7 win in Game 2 and 5-3 victory in the finale. The Mean Green started the season with a 15-2 record in February, tying for the most wins in the opening month of the season in program history. February was highlighted by two wins over Power Four opponents including a 6-5 walk-off win over then-No. 13 Texas Tech in the home opener. After losing 12 letterwinners last season, head coach Rodney DeLong added eight high school freshmen and three transfers for a total of 11 newcomers to the roster.  Senior OF Kailyn Bearpaw and sophomore P/UT Anneca Anderson come to North Texas from American rival Tulsa, while junior IF Riley McNemar transferred from Auburn.  The Mean Green were picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Cierra Simon hits a team-high .390 with six doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs. Oklahoma State transfer Tatum Sparks is right behind at .389 with six doubles, a team-high four home runs and 13 RBIs. Through 25 games, North Texas has relied on a trio of pitchers. Skylar Savage leads the staff in appearances (18), innings pitched (70.0), strikeouts (55) and is tied for the team lead in wins with 8. Tulsa transfer Anneca Anderson is 8-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 63.0 innings. She has 32 strikeouts, but has also walked 42 hitters. North Texas has 102 strikeouts as a team, but issued 101 free passes. DeLong is in his seventh season leading the Mean Green with 214 career wins at UNT.

SERIES HISTORY
This weekend's series will be the first time North Texas makes the trip to Wichita since March of 2006. Wichita State is 15-8 all-time vs. the Mean Green and a perfect 5-0 in Wichita. The Shockers won the first 10 meetings in the series before North Texas won six of the next seven.

LAST MEETING VS. THE MEAN GREEN
Wichita State avoided a series sweep at North Texas last April after dropping a doubleheader on Friday by a combined two runs. The Shockers fell in 9 innings in the opener, 4-3, and then 1-0 in Game 2, despite Chloe Barber tossing a masterpiece. Barber struck out 14, walked none and allowed just one run on three hits. Wichita State stranded 14 runners on base and went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. A North Texas solo home run in the top of the 7th sent the game to extra innings and then the Mean Green walked it off in the 9th on another solo home run. In the finale, Barber returned to the circle and threw a two-hit, complete game shutout. A three-run Taylor Sedlacek home run powered the offense, while Caroline Tallent and Krystin Nelson added RBI doubles.

RPI - WEEK TWO
Wichita State checked in at No. 67 in the second RPI rankings on March 10. The Shockers have already faced 10 teams in the Top50, including No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 12 Florida State, No. 13 Oklahoma, No. 26 Kentucky, No. 32 Florida Atlantic (three times), No. 35 Grand Canyon, No. 36 Missouri, No. 39 Liberty, No. 42 Nebraska and No. 46 San Diego State. The Shockers still have games against No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 13 Oklahoma, No. 43 Charlotte (three times), No. 44 North Texas (three times), No. 49 South Florida (three times), No. 51 Kansas (twice) and No. 67 Texas State.

WELCOME BACK
Wichita State welcomes back a pair of super seniors in Lauren Lucas and Camryn Compton after missing the entire 2024 season due to injuries. The duo have 161 combined starts between the two of them. Lucas is a two-time First Team All-Conference performer and earned Third Team All-America honors in 2023 after hitting .384 with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs and 62 RBIs. Her 62 RBIs ranked Top 10 nationally. Compton has battled injuries throughout her career at Wichita State, but her experience will be key in 2025, as she looks to end on a high note.

TOUGH SLEDDING
Wichita State has never shied away from playing a tough schedule, and that is no different in 2025. The Shockers are scheduled to play 10 teams ranked or receiving votes in the Preseason NFCA Top 25: No. 2 Oklahoma, No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Florida State, No. 15 Missouri, No. 19 Nebraska. Kentucky, Texas State, Grand Canyon and Liberty all received votes.

PRESEASON TOP 100 LOVE
Lauren Lucas was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100 list and the D1 Softball D100 Player Rankings. Lucas checked in at No. 78 on the Softball America Top 100 and No. 88 on the D100. Lucas was also named the No. 21 outfielder according to D1 Softball. Freshman pitcher Ava Sliger was named to the D1 Softball D100 Freshman Watch List on Jan. 8.

UP NEXT
Wichita State heads to San Marcos, Texas for a midweek tilt at Texas State on March 19.