PORTALES, N.M. – Two of the Lone Star Conference's (LSC) top offensive teams clash in Canyon, Texas this week as Eastern New Mexico Softball travels to face #2 West Texas A&M. For the midweek clash, the series opener will take place on Tuesday, Mar. 12, starting at 2 p.m. (MST). The teams will meet for a doubleheader on Wednesday, Mar. 13, starting at 12 p.m. (MST) and 2 p.m. (MST).

TUNE IN

• This week's games will be covered on the LSC Digital Network. The LSC Digital Network will now offer a single game pass for $15, a monthly pass for $30, and a yearly pass for $140: 3/12 G1 ENMU vs #2 WT | 3/13 G2 ENMU vs #2 WT | 3/13 G3 ENMU vs #2 WT
• ENMU travel to Canyon, Texas for the three-game set to face the Lady Buffs. Tickets are offered in person and online, with a general admission ticket costing $5: WT Tickets
• Live stats will be available for each contest this week:  3/12 ENMU vs #2 WT | 3/13 G1 ENMU vs #2 WT | 3/13 G2 ENMU vs #2 WT

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS 

Eastern (15-11, 8-10) face their second nationally ranked opponent in a row, after facing #25 Angelo State in three games over the weekend. During game one, Marissa Rodriguez tossed a complete game in the circle and provided a pair of RBIs in the Greyhounds 3-1 win.  However, the Rambelles picked up the final two games of the series, winning 10-2 (6 Inn.) and 4-0. Alondra Vasquez recorded a home run in game two, tying Taighen Whitzel for the team lead with eight home runs.

ENMU remains one of the top offensive teams in the conference, sitting in the top three for nearly every statistical category. The Greyhounds have a .339 batting average, .575 SLG%, 234 hits, 186 runs, and 167 runs batted in (landing in 2^nd in the conference for all). Nationally, the team is 4^th in the nation with 55 doubles, 8^th in hits (234), and 9^th in walks with 93. In the circle, Eastern New Mexico has a 4.77 ERA, striking out 91 hits and allowing 124 runs from 193 hits.
 
Whitzel continues their outstanding season, ranking in the top-three in the LSC for batting average (.525), hits (42, 5^th nationally), and RBIs (30). Vasquez and Whitzel lead the conference for home runs with eight, while Vasquez has a .424 batting average and 32 RBIs to lead the LSC. Samantha Gutierrez has also been a significant part of the lineup, providing 28 RBIs with a .370 batting average. Emma Southerland has picked up six wins this season, with a team best 33 strikeouts. Rodriguez has 59.2 innings thrown to lead the team, holding a record of 5-5.

SCOUTING THE #2 LADY BUFFS

West Texas A&M (22-2, 14-1) just had their 18-game win streak snapped, dropping their first conference contest of the season against Oklahoma Christian, 7-6. During the first two games of the series, WT picked up a 2-1 win and a 8-0 victory. The Lady Buffs currently sit as the #2 national-ranked team in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, where WT have been in the top-4 the entire season. The next poll is set to be released on Tuesday, Mar 12.

West Texas A&M are in the unique position of being the best hitting team in the LSC (.371) and best pitching team in the LSC (1.84 ERA). Statistically, WT leads the conference in nearly every category with a .371 batting average, .482 on-base percentage, .584 slugging percentage, 246 hits, 221 runs, 191 RBIs, and 53 stolen bases. Defensively, West Texas A&M's has the top ERA (1.84), with 161 strikeouts (2^nd in LSC), along with the top fielding percentage in the conference (0.984)

Several individuals have contributed to the Lady Buffs success, with Diana Murtha leading the nation in on-base percentage (.747) and slugging percentage (1.294), while being third in batting average (.608) to lead the conference. Just behind Murtha, Lauren Granger is hitting .514 in 22 games this season, and Brittni Rufus leads the team in hits with 40. Murtha (30 RBIs) and Madison Johnson (28 RBIs) bring home a majority of the WT runs. Heidi Vortherms (11-1) and Emilee Boyer (10-1) are both top-10 in the nation for wins in the circle, as Vortherms leads the pitching staff with a 1.75 ERA and 83 strikeouts.