SAN DIEGO – The San Diego softball program (1-6, 0-0 WCC) is set to open their 2023 home schedule, welcoming four teams to campus for the annual Torero Classic.   
 
The Toreros will face off with Boise State (1-4, 0-0 MWC), FDU (3-2, 0-0 NEC), Utah Tech (3-2, 0-0 WAC) and Wichita State (4-1, 0-0 American) in a tournament that spans four days at the USD Softball Complex.
 
TORERO CLASSIC SCHEDULE

• Thursday, Feb. 16 – Boise State vs. Utah Tech – 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 17 – Wichita State vs. Utah Tech – 9 a.m.
• Friday, Feb. 17 – Utah Tech vs. FDU – 11:30 a.m.
• Friday, Feb. 17 – Boise State vs. Wichita State – 2 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 17 – San Diego vs. FDU – 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 17 – San Diego vs. Boise State – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 18 – FDU vs. Boise State – 9 a.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 18 – Utah Tech vs. Boise State – 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 18 – Wichita State vs. FDU – 2 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 18 – San Diego vs. Utah Tech – 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 18 – San Diego vs. Wichita State – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 19 – FDU vs. Wichita State – 10 a.m.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• San Diego used strong pitching and timely hitting to earn a split of a doubleheader at Long Beach State, dropping game one, 1-0, and winning game two, 3-2, on Wednesday evening.
• Kelsey Tadlock and Madison Earnshaw each delivered complete game gems in the circle, with Tadlock going seven strong innings for the win.
• EJ Joyner launched her first collegiate home run and Izzy Owen tallied four hits on the day.

 
OPPONENT HISTORY

• San Diego is 1-1 all-time against FDU, splitting two games in San Diego in 2014.
• San Diego leads Utah Tech 1-0 in the all-time series, winning 7-3 last season behind a home run from Sofia Delgado.  
• The Toreros trail 5-6 in the all-time series with Boise State, with the last meeting coming in the postseason, during the 2017 NISC Regional.
• The Toreros will face Wichita State for the first time in their respective histories.

 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• The Toreros return all four All-WCC honorees from last season, led by All-WCC Second Team infielder Izzy Owen and pitcher Courtney Rose.
• Joecellia Roberts and Alexia Torculas, who were All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2022, are also back, with Torculas being named to the All-WCC Preseason Team on Feb. 7.
• Nine newcomers join the Toreros this season, including transfer Alyssa Hernandez and eight freshmen – Lauren Asia, Emma Giaime, Shawnese Hogue-Lacy, Taylor Johnson, EJ Joyner, Natalie McCliman, Carly Ruiz and Kelsey Tadlock.
• The Toreros are set for five straight games in the city and four at USD Softball Complex, with one to come at UC San Diego. All seven games this season have been on the road.
• Head Coach MJ Knighten will face Wichita State, her former team, for the first time, where she spent a season as a graduate assistant under head coach Kristi Bredbenner in 2020.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Earnshaw (267) ranks 10th all-time in strikeouts at San Diego and needs four to match Amy Lopez for ninth all-time.
• Hernandez (98) is two games away from 100 in her collegiate career.
• Owen is off to a sizzling start with the bat, ranking fourth nationally in hits with 11, while also leading the WCC in hits, batting average (.500) and ranking second in total bases (13).
• Joyner ranks right behind Owen in hits in second in the WCC with seven so far this season.
• Johnson continues to find ways to get on base early in her collegiate career. Johnson ranks sixth nationally and leads the WCC in hit-by-pitches per game (0.86) and leads the WCC in on-base percentage (.600).

 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Live stats for every game of the tournament will be provided by statbroadcast. To stay up to date with Toreros softball, follow the team on Instagram & Twitter by searching "USDsoftball".