Softball | 4/14/2015 1:37:00 PM

Tuesday, April 14, 2015
                                       
PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team (16-24; LSC 3-17) will make its final road trip of the regular season this week and will face some of the toughest opposition in the region. Late this week, the Zias will visit Lubbock Christian (30-11; HLC 17-3) for a rematch from last week's doubleheader. Over the weekend, ENMU will face a tough Texas Woman's (20-18-2; LSC 12-6-2) team in Denton, Texas.
 
The Zias will open their doubleheader at Lubbock Christian on Thursday at 12 p.m. MT. Friday's doubleheader at Texas Woman's is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., while the teams will close the series on Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
About the Zias
ENMU Athletics
ENMU Softball
ENMU Softball Roster
ENMU Softball Schedule
ENMU Softball Statistics

• With 16 wins, the Zias have surpassed their 2014 total
• Eastern's .331 batting average is on pace for its top performance since the 2006 season, when the squad batted .360
• The last time ENMU topped the .300 mark was in 2009
• The lineup features six players batting at least .311
• When leading after four innings, the Zias are 10-3 (23-4 over the last two seasons)

 With 11 wins, Aja Secheslingloff (Fr., P, Acampo, Calif./Lodi HS) is the first Zia pitcher to reach double figures since the 2009 campaign. In 2009, Kimberly Crouse won 12 games, while Kristen Cruickshank won 11 contests. Jennifer Harrer set the team record in 2001, with 24 victories in the circle.
 
Amanda Martinez (Sr., CF, Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown HS/El Paso CC) currently has 35 stolen bases for ENMU over two seasons and ranks fourth on the career list. She trails Kim Paschall (40) by just five. Current assistant coach, Laura Thompson holds the record, with 53 stolen bases. Last weekend, Martinez registered a single down the left field line in the seventh inning of the series opener against second-ranked West Texas A&M. The base hit extended her reached-base streak to 29 straight games, the second longest in team history. Since the 1999 season, the Zia have had seven reached-base streaks of at least 20 games, including the team record of 34, set by Kristina Goodman during the 2006 season.
 
Jacqueline Candelaria (Sr., INF, Los Lunas, N.M./Los Lunas HS) holds the team record with 26 sacrifice hits over her career. She surpassed Tracy Jordan and Dawn Murray's 21, in the series finale against Angelo State on March 7.
 
About the Lady Chaps
LCU Athletics
LCU Softball
LCU Softball Roster
LCU Softball Schedule
LCU Softball Statistics

Lubbock Christian brings a 30-11 record into Thursday's doubleheader and is 17-3 against the Heartland Conference. The Lady Chaps are in second place in the HLC standings, just a pair of games behind seventh-ranked St. Mary's.
 
The Lady Chaps are 3-6 against Lone Star Conference opposition, with wins over West Texas A&M and ENMU.
 
About the Pioneers
TWU Athletics
TWU Softball
TWU Softball Roster
TWU Softball Schedule
TWU Softball Statistics

Texas Woman's enters the weekend with a 20-18-2 record and is second in Lone Star Conference play, with a mark of 12-6-2. The Pioneers have tied both Angelo State and Texas A&M-Kingsville this season. TWU won the first three games against the Javelinas last weekend, but played to a 1-1 tie in the finale due to weather related issues.
 
Last season, the Pioneers finished with a 34-19 record and were third in the LSC with a mark of 18-10. Texas Woman's defeated Tarleton State in the first round of the Lone Star Conference tournament, before being eliminated by eventual champion, Angelo State. TWU suffered losses to Metro State and Midwestern State at NCAA Regionals.
 
On the Road Again

The Zias are 4-9 on the road this year, with victories over Washburn, Texas-Permian Basin, Texas A&M-Commerce and New Mexico Highlands. Martinez has been Eastern's top hitter on the road with a .406 batting average. Audrey Velasquez (So., INF, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS) is right behind at .400 with a team-best 13 runs batted in.
 
Inside the Series
 
The Zias are looking for their first win against the Lady Chaps, but came extremely close last week. Eastern held a 2-1 lead entering the sixth inning, when LCU exploded for six runs.
 
Zias vs Lubbock Christian (0-13)
 

Apr. 7, 2015	Lubbock Christian (2)	L, 5-13 (5)
Apr. 7, 2015	Lubbock Christian (1)	L, 4-8
Apr. 15, 2014	Lubbock Christian (2)	L, 5-7
Apr. 15, 2014	Lubbock Christian (1)	L, 1-9 (6)
Feb. 9, 2014	Lubbock Christian @Seminole (2)	L, 1-2
Feb. 9, 2014	Lubbock Christian @Seminole (1)	L, 3-8
Feb. 8, 2014	@Lubbock Christian  (2)	L, 0-11 (5)
Feb. 8, 2014	@Lubbock Christian  (1)	L, 1-10 (5)
Feb. 1, 2013	Lubbock Christian @San Antonio	L, 0-10 (5)
Feb. 13, 2010	@Lubbock Christian (2)	L, 5-8
Feb. 13, 2010	@Lubbock Christian (1)	L, 0-10 (5)
Feb. 12, 2010	Lubbock Christian (2)	L, 6-10
Feb. 12, 2010	Lubbock Christian (1)	L, 4-12 (5)
Apr. 15, 2014	Lubbock Christian (2)	L, 5-7
Apr. 15, 2014	Lubbock Christian (1)	L, 1-9 (6)
Feb. 9, 2014	Lubbock Christian @Seminole (2)	L, 1-2
Feb. 9, 2014	Lubbock Christian @Seminole (1)	L, 3-8
Feb. 8, 2014	@Lubbock Christian  (2)	L, 0-11 (5)
Feb. 8, 2014	@Lubbock Christian  (1)	L, 1-10 (5)
Feb. 1, 2013	Lubbock Christian @San Antonio	L, 0-10 (5)

 
The Zias have dropped the last 12 meetings with Texas Woman's, but had the game winning runs on base in the seventh inning in two of the four meetings last year. Eastern's last win in the series came in the 2010 season finale, when Kristen Cruickshank scored the walk off run from third base on a throwing error for a 5-4 victory.
 
Zias vs Texas Woman's (19-51)
 

Mar. 29, 2014	Zia Field (2)	L, 7-12
Mar. 29, 2014	Zia Field (1)	L, 9-11
Mar. 28, 2014	Zia Field (2)	L, 2-14 (5)
Mar. 28, 2014	Zia Field (1)	L, 4-5
Mar. 29, 2013	Pioneer Field	L, 2-7
Mar. 28, 2013	Pioneer Field (2)	L, 1-9 (6)
Mar. 28, 2013	Pioneer Field (1)	L, 2-6
Mar. 24, 2012	Zia Field	L, 6-12
Mar. 23, 2012	Zia Field (2)	L, 1-10 (6)
Mar. 23, 2012	Zia Field (1)	L, 0-10 (6)
Mar. 19, 2011	Pioneer Field	L, 3-11 (5)
Mar. 18, 2011	Pioneer Field (2)	L, 2-12 (5)
Mar. 18, 2011	Pioneer Field (1)	W, 11-8
Feb. 18, 2011	Wichita Falls, Texas	L, 0-13 (5)
May 2, 2010	Zia Field	W, 5-4
Mar. 29, 2013	Pioneer Field	L, 2-7
Mar. 28, 2013	Pioneer Field (2)	L, 1-9 (6)
Mar. 28, 2013	Pioneer Field (1)	L, 2-6
Mar. 24, 2012	Zia Field	L, 6-12
Mar. 23, 2012	Zia Field (2)	L, 1-10 (6)
Mar. 23, 2012	Zia Field (1)	L, 0-10 (6)
Mar. 19, 2011	Pioneer Field	L, 3-11 (5)
Mar. 18, 2011	Pioneer Field (2)	L, 2-12 (5)
Mar. 18, 2011	Pioneer Field (1)	W, 11-8

 
Around the Conference
Lone Star Conference Website
Lone Star Conference Softball
Lone Star Conference Softball Weekly Releases
Lone Star Conference Softball Schedule
Lone Star Conference Softball Standings
Lone Star Conference Softball Statistics
Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll
   
With a 21-3 record, West Texas A&M sits atop the Lone Star Conference and is followed by Texas Woman's with a record of 12-6-2. Cameron (11-9) and Texas A&M-Commerce (12-10) are third and fourth, while Angelo State (10-9-1) and Tarleton State (9-9) currently occupy the final two playoff positions.
 
The Lady Buffs lead the league lead in hitting, at .371, with Cameron tight behind at .349. Texas Woman's is third in hitting (.334). The Rambelles' 2.46 earned run average is tops in the LSC, while WT is right behind, at 2.60. Cameron and West Texas feature the league's top defenses, with fielding percentages of .972 and .967, respectively.
 
WT's lineup features the LSC's top three hitters and four of the top six. Texas Woman's Kendra Sancet (.440) and Nicole Nordie (.417) are fourth and fifth in batting, while Laura Mabary (.409) is seventh. ENMU's Martinez ranks ninth, with a .395 average. Audrey Velasquez's (So., INF, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS) 55 hits is second in the LSC, behind only Stacey Ramirez from WT. Angelo State's Brandy Marlett leads the conference with a 1.56 earned run average, while WT's Tori Bayer is second at 1.99.
 
Looking Ahead
   
Eastern will conclude the regular season the next weekend, against Tarleton State.