DALLAS – Heading into the Feb. 9 opening day, UTSA softball's Marena Estell and Kat Ibarra were named among the 2023 Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team, announced by officials from the conference office on Thursday. The team was selected by the league's coaches.
Winner of the 2022 UTSA Co-Outstanding Women's Athlete of the Year Award at last spring's Rowdys, Estell played in 47 games a year ago as either designated player or pitcher for the Roadrunners. She earns one of the two DP/Utility slots on the preseason team after a 2022 season with seven multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games, leading the team and ranking fifth in C-USA (81st in NCAA) with 14 home runs, as well as a team-high 31 RBI. On the mound, Estell paced the Roadrunners in ERA (3.54) and WHIP (1.39), tying for most wins (6) and the second-most appearances (27), innings (89.0), strikeouts (49) and complete games (3).
A returning member of the 2022 C-USA All-Conference First Team, Ibarra started all 48 games at shortstop for the Roadrunners, leading UTSA at the plate with a .327 average. Ibarra also posted team highs in runs (37), hits (50), triples (3), total bases (87), stolen bases (3), at-bats (153) and assists (97). She registered a team second-most 11 double plays. Ibarra was also previously named to the 2021 C-USA All-Freshman Team.
For the first time since 2014, Conference USA will not have a divisional split. In the C-USA Softball Preseason Poll, the Roadrunners were predicted to finish seventh among the league's 10 teams.
During the 2022 season, the Roadrunners finished with an 18-30 overall record and logged an 11-12 Conference USA record, ending the campaign ranked fourth in the C-USA West Division.
The Roadrunners open the 2023 campaign with five games at the Bearkat Classic, kicking off opening day on Feb. 9 in Huntsville, Texas against host Sam Houston. The following weekend, UTSA hosts its slate of the I-35 Tournament presented by Courtyard Marriott at The Rim, with games against Abilene Christian, Lamar, New Mexico State and Texas A&M - Corpus Christi scheduled at Roadrunner Field, Feb. 16-19.
2023 C-USA Softball Preseason Poll
1. North Texas (9) 99
2. WKU 82
3. Charlotte (1) 78
4. LA Tech 74
T5. Florida Atlantic 56
T5. UAB 56
7. UTSA 39
T8. FIU 25
T8. Middle Tennessee 25
10. UTEP 16
(first place votes in parentheses)
C-USA Softball Preseason Player of the Year
Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte
C-USA Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Ashley Peters, North Texas
All-Conference Team
Pitcher: Lynn Gardner, Florida Atlantic* - Gr.
Pitcher: Ashley Peters, North Texas* - Sr.
Pitcher: Skylar Savage, North Texas* - So.
Catcher: Kalei Christensen, North Texas - Jr.
Catcher: Sierra Frazier, UAB* - Sr.
Infielder: Ella Chancey, Charlotte* - So.
Infielder: Kailey Gamble, North Texas* - Jr.
Infielder: Amanda Gonzalez, LA Tech* - Sr.
Infielder: Kat Ibarra, UTSA* - Jr.
Infielder: Lindsey Smith, UAB - So.
Outfielder: Sara Berthiaume, Florida Atlantic* - Sr.
Outfielder: Lexi Cobb, North Texas* - Jr.
Outfielder: Taylor Davis, WKU* - Sr.
Outfielder: Sierra Sacco, LA Tech* - So.
DP/Utility: Bailey Vannoy, Charlotte* - Gr.
DP/Utility: Marena Estell, UTSA - Gr.
- UTSA -
