COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team returns to action Friday as they travel to Stephenville for a three-game series against Tarleton State. The Lions will face the Texanns in one game Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.
 
Live Stats Links
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (8-2) at Tarleton State (7-4)
When: Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1 & 3 p.m.
Where: TSU Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas
Live Stats: Fri, Feb. 17, 6 p.m: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=159745
Sat, Feb. 18, 1 p.m.: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=159746
Sat, Feb. 18, 3 p.m.: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=159747
 
The Lions return to Texas after playing their first 10 games out of state. The Lions are returning from a five-game stretch in Florida, coming out with a 4-1 record, including a win over the No. 17 ranked team in the country. Head coach Richie Bruister was pleased with how his team came out.
 
"It was a great weekend for us," he said. "Anytime you go on the road and come back victorious, its wonderful because there are a lot of moving pieces. My staff did a great job, Christina May, Doug Caison and Jane Riddle, to make a smooth transition down there, getting all the flights and buses. To come back with four wins was great, especially against some of the best teams in the country. I'm proud of our performance coming back 4-1."
 
The Lions as a whole hit .315, with two players in Ciera Nunez and Baylea Higgs hitting over .500. Bruister was disappointed the field fences were 15 feet beyond regulation length, but still liked how his team swung the bats.
 
"We still got the job done," he said. "We outscored our opponents, which is really good. Really the first day, we hit seven homeruns and only one of them counted. I'm very proud of Baylea and Ciera. They both had a great tournament, hitting over .500. When they are getting on base, it gives opportunities to our hitters to drive in runs with Mariah and Kinsie and that group in the middle of the lineup. That's a great place to be when those folks are on base."
 
For their performances, two Lions were named to the All-Tournament team. Joining Nunez on the team was Mariah Jameyson. Bruister contributes the recognition and the fine play of those two players to their practice habits.
 
"They work hard in practice," he said. "Mariah is out there constantly hitting on her own. Ciera has a great attitude and works really hard. It's really a great honor for them. It just goes to the hard work they have put in in practice. To get to see it pay off in a tournament like this is wonderful for them and a great honor for those kids and the hard work they have done."
 
The Lions also had some success on the defensive end. Their pitchers held batters to a .250 average and an ERA of 2.16. Bruister knows it is a combination of good pitching and good fielding behind the
 
"Coach Caison has done a really good job with the pitching staff, taking that over in the last few weeks," he said. "They have responded well. They have cut the walks down. Strikeouts are up. And they are keeping the ball in play in the infield. Our defense is playing awesome behind them and making some great plays. We've got some gold glovers out there in both the infield and the outfield. It is fun to watch them play. They are very fast and they make the routine plays."
 
One of the Lion pitchers, Katie Dean, was named Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week after recording two wins and a save for the team in their last tournament. Bruister was proud of how his top ace performed.
 
"She came in in some tough spots," Bruister said of Dean. "We lean on her as our number one right now. We give her the ball to get in the circle and get the job done for us and keep us in the ball game. Our offense is going to score runs and give us an opportunity to win. She was put into some pressure situations and she did outstanding. She came through for us, just like we expected. Once, there were a couple runners on and nobody out and she strikes out the next three batters that she faced. To do that, she's got ice water running through her veins. We are very happy to put her in any of those situations when we need to call on her."
 
The Lions pitching staff struck out 26 opposing batters while A&M-Commerce struck out just 10 times in five games. Bruister likes the disparity and hopes it continues. He knows it means his hitters are putting the ball in play.
 
"Our average was ok but it could have been really, really good," he said. "We hit a lot of hard balls right at their defense. It doesn't show up in the stats but it does show up on film. We are putting the ball in play and making the defense have to make plays and put pressure on them. It gives our offense a chance to score a bunch of runs. I'm very proud of them and proud of our pitchers. That's less opportunities our defense has to have to make plays when you are striking out folks."
 
Now moving on to Tarleton State in the first series of LSC action, Bruister sees a team that has similar stats to his own. He knows a typical conference battle awaits his team, but he is confident his players are up for the challenge.
 
"You are going to have to limit big innings and go out there and play hard," he said. "It is at their place so they will definitely have the home field advantage but we've been playing on the road all year so we are prepared for that. It is going to be a Lone Star Conference battle, just like it is every week. This year we are starting in early February. We look forward to going down to Stephenville for a big matchup there. We know all three games are going to be a battle. We are excited and look forward to the challenge."