The Teams: Tarleton Texans (0-0 WAC) vs. Wichita State (0-0, 0-0 AAC); Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (0-0, 0-0 SLC); Lamar Cardinals (1-3, 0-0 SLC); #11 Oklahoma State Cowgirls (2-0, 0-0 Big XII); #3 Oklahoma Sooners (4-0; 0-0 Big XII); Houston Cougars (2-1, 0-0 AAC)
Where: Conroe, Texas / Houston, Texas
Stadium: The Scrapyards (Saturday and Sunday); Cougar Softball Stadium (Monday)
Times: 12:00/5:00 p.m. CT (Saturday); 1:15/5:45 p.m. CT (Sunday); 11 a.m./1:30 p.m. CT (Monday)
 
TEXAN SOFTBALL GAME DAY
After a handful of opponent and location changes, the Tarleton Softball program appears ready to finally make their NCAA Division I debut at The Scrapyards in Conroe with four games against Division I programs, including No. 11 Oklahoma State. As of late Friday afternoon, Tarleton added two more games to its weekend trip when the Texans scheduled a doubleheader in Houston against No. 3 Oklahoma and the UH Cougars on Monday afternoon.
 
Tarleton was originally scheduled to compete in the Tracey Beard Classic in Frisco, but due to severe weather in the area, several teams coordinated the transition to The Scrapyards. This will be first meeting ever between Tarleton and any of these four Division I opponents – Wichita State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Lamar and Oklahoma State.
 
Due to the last-minute nature of the tournament, live stats will only be available for select games throughout the weekend. Check the Softball schedule at TarletonSports.com for links to live stats.
 
ABOUT THE MATCHUP

• This will be the first meeting for Tarleton against any of their six opponents this weekend. Lamar is a future conference rival as an incoming member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

 
QUICK HITS

• When the season came to an abrupt end last March, Tarleton was the only remaining undefeated team in the LSC standings –making them the de facto conference champions in their final season of Division II.
• Tarleton made the jump to NCAA Division I on July 1, 2020 and are now a transitioning member of the Western Athletic Conference.
• One of Tarleton's four seniors from last year's team opted back in for another go at her final season. Destiny Crumpley chose to return while Kadyn Kirkpatrick, Morgan Ling and all-time strikeout and wins leader Jordan Withrow chose to retire from the game.
• Tarleton was picked to finish seventh in the WAC preseason polls. Georgia Capell and Destiny Crumpley were named to the Preseason All-WAC team.

 
NEW DIVISION WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE
WELCOME TO THE WAC: After being a part of NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference since its inception in 1996, Tarleton Softball is on the move to the Western Athletic Conference and NCAA Division I. The softball program is the only active program at Tarleton with an NCAA-only history.
 
WAC PRESEASON POLL: Tarleton was chosen to finish seventh in the WAC Preseason Poll released on February 3. The Texans received eight total votes, which was four votes behind fellow transition school Dixie State in sixth place.
 
PRESEASON ALL-WAC: Georgia Capell and Destiny Crumpley's reputation of dominance has carried over to the next level as the Texan tandem was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team.
 
CUMPIAN: "MAYBE WE WILL": Following the WAC Preseason Poll, Tarleton head coach Mark Cumpian had this to say: "Judging by last year's standings, I'm not sure I would have picked us seventh. I know we're new to NCAA Division I and the WAC and we need to earn our place, but the tradition we've built here speaks for itself. I know that needs to translate at the next level before we can expect the same kind of preseason respect we had at Division II. And it's hard to say how the season will play out. Maybe we will finish seventh – but I can guarantee, if we do, we will be the toughest, most competitive seventh seed the WAC has ever seen."
 
NOTABLES
IMPACT TRANSFERS: Three transfers have come in from other NCAA Division I schools and are expected to make significant impacts within the starting lineup – 3B Katy Schaefer, 2B Jordan Dickerson and UT MacKenzie Peterson. Schaefer comes to Tarleton after hitting .304 with 18 RBI in her COVID-shortened freshman season at Houston Baptist while Dickerson comes from Northwestern State (La.) and Peterson from New Mexico.
 
MOVING ACROSS THE DIAMOND: Kristen Zuehl will make the move across the diamond to first base after playing in 43 games, starting 26, at third base for the Texans over the last two seasons. She started every game at the hot corner in 2020 and is a .369 career hitter.
 
TARLETON IN SEASON OPENERS: Tarleton is 16-8 all-time in season openers and 2-1 in the first games of the season in three seasons under Mark Cumpian.
 
RECORD RETURNER: Georgia Capell has put together a Hall of Fame worthy resumé – and it's only been two and a half years. The round-two junior slugger from Midlothian is primed to lead the Texans offense for the next two seasons at the NCAA Division I level. Capell enters the weekend as the program's all-time home run leader (42) and is top 5 in program history in five other offensive categories: runs scored (147), RBI (138), doubles (42), hit by pitch (29) and total bases (340). She's also on pace to be an all-time leader in batting average and slugging percentage.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will make its home debut next Wednesday afternoon with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Prairie View A&M in Stephenville.