University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Opens 2015 Slate At Houston Invitational This Weekend
February 12, 2015 | Softball
The Massachusetts softball team will open its 41st season of intercollegiate play this weekend at the Hilton Houston Plaza Invitational. The five-team event is hosted by Houston at Cougar Softball Stadium and will also consist of DePaul, McNeese State, Northern Iowa and Stephen F. Austin.
Ticket prices to the games at UH are $8 for adults and $5 for youths.
Hilton Houston Plaza Invitational Schedule
*** All times are Eastern ***
*** All games at Houston's Cougar Softball Stadium unless noted
Friday, Feb 13
10:00 a.m. DePaul vs. UNI
12:30 p.m. DePaul vs. SFA
3:00 p.m. Houston vs. UNI
4:30 p.m. UMass vs. SFA | GameTracker | @UMassSoftball In-Game Updates (played at West U. Field)
5:30 p.m. Houston vs. McNeese State
8:00 p.m. McNeese State vs. UMass | GameTracker | @UMassSoftball In-Game Updates
Saturday, Feb 14
10:00 a.m. SFA vs. McNeese State
12:30 p.m. SFA vs. UNI
3:00 p.m. Houston vs. UMass | Watch Live on UH All-Access ($) | GameTracker | @UMassSoftball In-Game Updates
4:30 p.m. McNeese State vs. UNI (played at West U. Field)
5:30 p.m. Houston vs. DePaul
8:00 p.m. DePaul vs. UMass | GameTracker | @UMassSoftball In-Game Updates
Sunday, Feb. 15
10:00 a.m. McNeese State vs. UMass | GameTracker | @UMassSoftball In-Game Updates
12:30 p.m. McNeese State vs. DePaul
3:00 p.m. Houston vs. SFA
SCOUTING STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (Friday 4:30 PM ET at West U. Field):
Stephen F. Austin is 2-3 on the season after opening play at Baylor's Getterman Classic last weekend. The Lady Jacks have wins over Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Wichita State. SFA went 26-27 last season and finished fourth in the Southland with a 14-11 mark.
The teams are meeting for the first time on the diamond Friday.
SCOUTING MCNEESE STATE (Friday 8 PM ET):
McNeese started the 2015 season at the inaugural Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala., opening with wins over Florida Gulf Coast, FIU and Southern Miss. The Cowgirls ended play with setbacks against No. 3/4 Alabama and No. 23 South Alabama. McNeese went 40-17 a year ago and captured their second-straight Southland regular-season title with a 20-6 record. It returns six starters and all three pitchers.
No. 23 UMass defeated McNeese, 6-5, in the 1997 (Feb. 14) season-opener at the Arizona State Tournament in the only previous game between the schools.
SCOUTING HOUSTON (Saturday 3 PM ET):
Houston also opened the 2015 season at the Sand Dollar Classic, finishing with a 3-4 mark. The Cougars fell to FIU, No. 3/4 Alabama, Jackson State and No. 23 South Alabama, with victories over Southern Miss, FGCU and Liberty. UH went 33-23 in 2014 and was fourth in the American. It advanced to the Waco Regional for the fourth-straight season.
UMass and UH have never played in softball.
SCOUTING DEPAUL (Saturday 8 PM ET):
DePaul is 1-4 this season after taking part in the Hawaii Paradise Classic last weekend. The Blue Demons won the Big East title last season and participated in the
The Blue Demons lead the series 6-3 and have won the last four. The teams have met three times in the past three seasons, including twice in the 2012 campaign.
SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA (Sunday 10 AM ET):
Northern Iowa is 3-3 on the season after hosting Drake, Iowa, North Dakota State, Southern Utah and Wisconsin-Green Bay at the UNI Dome last weekend. The Panthers went 24-24 last season and finished fifth (14-12) in the Missouri Valley Conference. They had four players earn preseason all-MVC recognition this year.
UMass leads the series with UNI 3-1. This will be the first meeting since the 1994 Florida State Tournament.