SHOCKERS PICKED TO DEFEND TITLE
Defending American Athletic Conference regular season champion Wichita State was selected as the favorite to win the 2024 American Athletic Conference softball title in voting that was done by the league’s head coaches.
The Shockers earned eight first-place votes and 80 points in the preseason poll. Wichita State won its second regular season title after finishing 44-12 overall and 16-2 in The American a season ago. The Shockers reached their seventh NCAA Regional in program history. Wichita State returns 2023 American Rookie of the Year, pitcher Alex Aguilar, as well as All-American outfielder Addison Barnard.
Incoming member Charlotte finished with 70 points, including one first place vote. The 49ers enter The American coming off a 2023 Conference USA Championship, finishing 2023 with a 35-23 (.603) overall record. Last season marked the first NCAA Regional appearances for Charlotte. The 49ers return 2023 CUSA Newcomer of the Year in pitcher Sam Gress.
North Texas was picked to finished third with 66 points, including one first place vote, followed by South Florida (55 points), Florida Atlantic (47 points), UAB (40 points), Tulsa (37 points), East Carolina (29 points), Memphis (14 points) and UTSA (12 points).
NEW ERA. SAME POWER
The American welcomes UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and UTSA into competition this season. Starting this season, The American will have 10 teams competing in softball with the five additions joining continuing members East Carolina, Memphis, South Florida, Tulsa and Wichita State.
THREE TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES IN PRESEASON POLLS
Entering the season, three teams are receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll or the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll. Wichita State is receiving votes in both polls, while Charlotte is receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Poll and North Texas is receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8
UTSA at Texas State (ESPN+)__________________ 3 p.m.
South Florida vs Illinois State (ESPN+)__________ 4 p.m.
Florida Atlantic vs Marshall____________________ 4:30 p.m.
East Carolina at Charleston Southern (ESPN+)____ 5 p.m.
RV/- Charlotte at 3/4 Florida State (ACCN)_________ 6 p.m.
South Florida vs Bethune-Cookman (ESPN+)_____ 6 p.m.
Florida Atlantic vs 16/12 Arkansas_______________ 7 p.m.
UTSA vs Northwestern State__________________ 7:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
East Carolina vs Saint Joseph’s________________ 10 a.m.
-/RV North Texas vs Utah Tech (FloSoftball)_______ 11 a.m.
Tulsa vs Valparaiso___________________________ 11 a.m.
RV/RV Wichita State vs SFA______________________ 11:30 a.m.
East Carolina vs Cleveland State_______________ 12:30 p.m.
Tulsa vs Lehigh______________________________ 1:30 p.m.
South Florida vs -/RV Michigan (ESPN+)___________ 3 p.m.
UTSA vs Southern Illinois______________________ 3:30 p.m.
RV/RV Wichita State at Sam Houston_____________ 4:30 p.m.
Memphis vs Pitt______________________________ 4:30 p.m.
-/RV North Texas at RV/RVArizona (Pac12+)_________ 6 p.m.
RV/- Charlotte at 3/4 Florida State (ACCN)_________ 6 p.m.
UAB vs IUPUI________________________________ 6:30 p.m.
Memphis at 14/15 LSU (SEC Network+)____________ 7 p.m.
Florida Atlantic vs Penn State_________________ 7 p.m.
UTSA vs Kennesaw State______________________ 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
East Carolina vs Saint Joseph’s________________ 10 .m.
RV/- Charlotte vs Texas Tech____________________ 10 a.m.
UAB vs IUPUI________________________________ 12 p.m.
Memphis vs Pitt______________________________ 12 p.m.
Tulsa vs Valparaiso___________________________ 1:30 p.m.
-/RV North Texas vs Utah Tech (FloSoftball)_______ 3 p.m.
UAB at -/RV Mississippi State___________________ 3 p.m.
East Carolina at College of Charleston (FloSoftball)___ 3 p.m.
RV/RV Wichita State vs SFA______________________ 4:30 p.m.
South Florida vs Oregon State (ESPN+)_________ 4:30 p.m.
Memphis at 14/15 LSU (SEC Network+)____________ 5 p.m.
RV/- Charlotte vs Florida A&M___________________ 5:30 p.m.
Florida Atlantic vs Ohio_______________________ 6 p.m.
-/RV North Texas at RV/RV Arizona (Pac12+)_________ 6 p.m.
RV/RV Wichita State at Sam Houston_____________ 7 p.m.
Tulsa at RV/24 Texas A&M_______________________ 7:30 p.m.
UTSA vs Creighton____________________________ 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Florida Atlantic vs Michigan State_____________ 9 p.m.
RV/- Charlotte vs Texas Tech____________________ 10 a.m.
-/RV North Texas vs Lipscomb (FloSoftball)_______ 10:30 a.m.
East Carolina vs Cleveland State_______________ 11 a.m.
-/RV Wichita State vs UNLV______________________ 11:30 a.m.
Tulsa at RV/24 Texas A&M_______________________ 12:30 p.m.
-/RV North Texas vs Northern Colorado (FloSoftball)______ 12:30 p.m.
UAB at -/RVMississippi State___________________ 1 p.m.
South Florida vs 17/18 Florida (ESPN+)____________ 2:30 p.m.
All times ET and subject to change
