Softball | 4/9/2015 2:23:00 PM
Thursday, April 09, 2015
PORTALES, N.M. — This weekend, the Eastern New Mexico University softball team (16-20; LSC 3-13) will host defending NCAA Division II and Lone Star Conference champion, West Texas A&M (33-6; LSC 17-3). The Zias are looking to rebound from a mid-week doubleheader against Lubbock Christian, while the Lady Buffs bring a nine-game win streak to Portales.
The Zias will open the series on Friday, with a 1 p.m. MT, doubleheader against West Texas A&M. The teams will start the second doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
About the ZiasENMU AthleticsENMU SoftballENMU Softball RosterENMU Softball ScheduleENMU Softball Statistics- With 16 wins, the Zias have surpassed their 2014 total
- Eastern's .334 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 seven players batting at least .302
- 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.
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 BuffsWT AthleticsWT SoftballWT Softball RosterWT Softball ScheduleWT Softball StatisticsWest Texas A&M leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks second in the latest NCAA Division II poll. WT defeated Valdosta State, 3-2, in the championship last season. The Lady Buffs boast a 33-6 overall record and have won nine consecutive games, which includes wins against nationally-ranked Cameron, Lubbock Christian and a four-game sweep of Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Home Sweet Home The Zias have won six home games this season, which included wins over nationally-ranked Angelo State and Cameron. Eastern is slightly being out hit in those 14 games by a .404-.393 margin. Martinez is hitting .460 at Zia Field, while
Kyra Sirag (Jr., C, Garden Grove, Calif./Rancho Alamitos HS) is batting .458, with a team-high three homers. .
Inside the Series The Zias are looking to snap a 16-game skid in the series against West Texas A&M. Last season, the Lady Buffs won all four meetings, but
Eastern turned in a superlative performance in the third game. Candelaria batted two-for-three in the game and
Cailin Garmon limited WT to just four hits. The four hits marked the fewest by the Lady Buffs when the opposing pitcher tossed a complete game
The Zias last win was a 5-0 decision by Kimberly Crouse. ENMU career hits leader Alex Mayo Otis batted two-for-three. Eastern outhit West Texas A&M 10-3 and snapped a scoreless tie in the fourth inning.
Zias vs West Texas A&M (13-22) | Apr. 18, 2014 | @West Texas A&M (2) | L, 1-10 (5) |
| Apr. 18, 2014 | @West Texas A&M (1) | L, 0-4 |
| Apr. 12, 2014 | West Texas A&M (2) | L, 2-11 (5) |
| Apr. 12, 2014 | West Texas A&M (1) | L, 1-10 (5) |
| Apr. 24, 2013 | West Texas A&M | L, 5-11 |
| Apr. 17, 2013 | @West Texas A&M (2) | L, 3-19 (5) |
| Apr. 17, 2013 | @West Texas A&M (1) | L, 0-14 (5) |
| Apr. 17, 2012 | @West Texas A&M | L, 0-20 (5) |
| Apr. 10, 2012 | West Texas A&M (2) | L, 2-6 |
| Apr. 10, 2012 | West Texas A&M (1) | L, 2-13 (5) |
| Apr. 30, 2011 | @West Texas A&M | L, 0-3 |
| Apr. 29, 2011 | @West Texas A&M (2) | L, 0-17 (5) |
| Apr. 29, 2011 | @West Texas A&M (1) | L, 5-14 (5) |
| Mar. 05, 2011 | @West Texas A&M | L, 2-15 (5) |
| Mar. 04, 2011 | @West Texas A&M | L, 0-15 (5) |
| Apr. 18, 2010 | West Texas A&M (2) | L, 0-12 (5) |
| Apr. 18, 2010 | West Texas A&M (1) | W, 5-0 |
| Mar. 05, 2010 | @West Texas A&M | L, 7-8 |
Around the ConferenceLone Star Conference WebsiteLone Star Conference SoftballLone Star Conference Softball Weekly ReleasesLone Star Conference Softball ScheduleLone Star Conference Softball StandingsLone Star Conference Softball StatisticsLone Star Conference Preseason Poll With a 17-3 record, West Texas A&M sits atop the Lone Star Conference and is followed by Texas Woman's with a record of 9-6-1. Cameron (9-7) and Angelo State (10-9-1) are third and fourth, while Texas A&M-Commerce (9-9) and Tarleton State (7-7) currently occupy the final two playoff positions.
The Lady Buffs and Cameron are tied for the league lead in hitting, with .354 averages, with ENMU right behind at .334. Angelo State is fourth in batting, at .333. The Rambelles' 2.44 earned run average is tops in the LSC, while WT is right behind, at 2.57. Cameron and West Texas feature the league's top defenses, with fielding percentages of .973 and .967, respectively.
WT's lineup features three players in the LSC's top five in hitting. Lacey Taylor leads the league with a .466 batting average, while Allie Smith (.421) is fourth and Renee Erwin (.419) is fifth. Nicole Nordie and Kendra Sancet from Texas Woman's are second and third in batting. ENMU's Martinez ranks sixth, with a .412 average. Erwin also leads the conference in on-base percentage (.618), runs (58), homeruns (16), walks (36) and runs batted in (51).
Audrey Velasquez's (So., INF, Las Cruces, N.M./Las Cruces HS) 52 hits leads the LSC. Angelo State's Brandy Marlett leads the conference with a 1.54 earned run average, while WT's Tori Bayer is second at 2.14.
Looking Ahead The Zias will have a six-game road trip next week, against
Lubbock Christian and
Texas Woman's. Eastern will conclude the regular season the following weekend, against
Tarleton State.
