SOFTBALL PICKED SIXTH IN MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON POLL
Ariana Martinez and Maddie Schmidt named to All-Mountain West Preseason Team
In a preseason polling of the Mountain West softball coaches, UNLV was picked to finish sixth in the 2024 campaign, the league announced Wednesday.
Individually, senior Maddie Schmidt and Ariana Martinez received preseason accolades both selected to the All-MW Preseason Team. Schmidt, last season was a member of the All-Conference second team squad after a .331 batting average with 49 hits, including two triples and two doubles and was a perfect 21-for-21 on stolen bases. Martinez, a 2023 All-Conference first team selection, was second on the squad last year with a .370 batting average including 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBI.
San Diego State was picked as the preseason favorites to win the regular season after collecting the 2023 Tournament Champion title. The Aztecs tallied 64 points and eight first-place votes. Boise State, the 2023 Regular Season champions, tabbed the second-place finish with 57 points and had one first-place vote. Colorado State earned the third-place vote with 46 points, followed by Fresno State in fourth with 41 points. UNR was picked fifth with 37 points, while the Rebels earned 28 points in the sixth spot. Rounding out the nine-team poll is Utah State in seventh with 19 points, New Mexico (17) in eighth and San Jose State in ninth (15).
UNLV enters the 2024 season with unfinished business on its mind after being right on the edge of the six-team MW tournament last season which was hosted for the first time since 2006. The Rebels return 16 players from last year’s squad including six starting position players and three pitchers. UNLV welcomes six newcomers to the team this season.
The Rebels are eager to begin the season, which starts Friday, Feb. 9 at the Bearkat Classic with host, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Wichita State. UNLV will face Stephen F. Austin first on Friday at 11 a.m. PT followed by a game with the Bearkats at 4 p.m. PT. The Rebels will play two games on Saturday, Feb. 10 and one game on Sunday, Feb. 11.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 UNLV softball season. Season tickets are $50 for adults, $40 for seniors, faculty and staff, and alumni. Tournament passes for both the UNLV Desert Classic and UNLV Rebel Classic are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors, faculty and staff. Single-day tournament tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, faculty and staff. Kids under 12, Nevada High School students with their high school ID, UNLV students are free at all home contests.
2024 MW PRESEASON SOFTBALL COACHES’ POLL
- TEAM (1ST PLACE VOTES) POINTS
- San Diego State (8) – 64
- Boise State (1) – 57
- Colorado State – 46
- Fresno State – 41
- Nevada – 37
- UNLV – 28
- Utah State – 19
- New Mexico – 17
- San Jose State – 15
