PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico softball return to Greyhound Softball Field for its second home weekend of the season. On Friday, Mar. 18, the Greyhounds welcome nationally-ranked #9 Texas A&M-Kingsville for a doubleheader starting at 3 pm. Then, Eastern welcome Texas A&M International on Sunday, Mar. 20, for a pair of games starting at 11 am. The national rankings are based on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll.

LAST TIME OUT

The Hounds played four tough games over the weekend against nationally ranked competition. First, the Hounds lost a pair games to #18 Angelo State, 2-1 and 8-7, then dropped a couple of games against #15 Lubbock Christian, 8-0 (5 Inn.) and 6-1.

SCOUTING THE HOUNDS

Currently, ENMU hold an 8-16 record overall with a 1-7 conference record. The Hounds have played tough competition to open its conference schedule, facing five nationally ranked teams in its first 10 conference games. Overall, the Hounds hold a batting average of .245, scoring 99 runs with 139 hits. The Greyhounds pitching staff has an ERA of 5.87 with 162 strikeouts in 143.0 innings.
 
Lisette Urquidez has a team high .435 batting average, while leading the team in hits (30) and RBIs (26). Brook Leger sports a .300 batting average and Jokaira Paredes sits with a .298 batting average. Leger is the leader in the circle, posting a 2.80 ERA with 127 strikeouts on the year.
 
Around the conference, Leger leads the LSC with 127 strikeouts. The next highest is Emily Otto of Texas A&M-Commerce with 87 strikeouts. In the nation, Leger is 4^th for strikeouts, and 8^th for strikeouts per seven innings (11.1).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

#9 Texas A&M University-Kingsville

The Javelinas enter weekend as the 9^th ranked team in the nation, holding a record of 22-3 with a 6-2 standing in conference action. In its last weekend, TAMUK went 3-1 with a pair wins against Cameron University and a split with Oklahoma Christian University.

As a group, Texas A&M-Kingsville have a .366 batting average (2^nd in LSC) with 255 hits (3^rd in LSC), scoring 183 runs (3^rd in LSC), and 159 RBI's (3^rd in LSC). The Javelinas have the top pitching staff in the conference with a 1.47 ERA and a conference low 40 runs allowed.

Matisen Onofrei is one of the top hitters in the conference with a .500 batting average, leading TAMUK, along with a team high 38 hits. Jory Cervantes as a .407 batting average, with Kayla Gonzales holding a team high 28 RBIs. Carissa De Los Santos has the lowest ERA in the conference at 0.72 and a 4-0 record. Beth Montes also has an impressive record of 8-1, with an 1.29 ERA.
 
Texas A&M International University

The Dustdevils earned one win in its last weekend of play, falling twice to Oklahoma Christian and splitting with Cameron University. Overall, TAMIU stand at 8-19 on the season with a 2-6 conference record.

As a team, the Dustdevils have a .243 batting average, scoring 72 runs on 167 hits with 67 RBIs. Texas A&M International are reaching base with a .314 on base percentage, and a .365 slugging percentage. The pitching for TAMIU have a 4.86 ERA allowing 146 runs from 195 hits.

Heather Ruiz has the top average for the Dustdevils at .421 and leading the team in with 32 hits. Briana Arredondo posts a team high 13 RBIs and three home runs. Topping the pitching stats, Darrian Smith has a 2.97 ERA with 85 strikeouts (3^rd in LSC). Smith holds a record of 7-6 and has pitched close to 50% of available innings.