COMMERCE— The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team will face regional foe Oklahoma Baptist University in a doubleheader on Tuesday. The games will be the final road games of the regular season for the Lions.
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (30-18, 14-13 LSC) at Oklahoma Baptist (21-26, 13-24 GAC)
WHERE: Lady Bison Park in Shawnee, Oklahoma
WHEN: Tuesday, April 25 at 4 and 6 p.m.
LIVE STATS (Game 1): https://portal.stretchinternet.com/okbu/stats.htm?eventId=346154&streamType=video
LIVE STATS (Game 2): https://portal.stretchinternet.com/okbu/stats.htm?eventId=346156&streamType=video
LIVE WEBCAST: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/okbu/
The Lions are coming off being swept by No. 1 Angelo State over the weekend. Head coach
Richie Bruister saw his team for the most part keep with the number one team in the country. However, a familiar problem arose in each of the three games.
"We saw some of the mistakes we've seen of giving up the big inning," he said. "That's where we have to improve. That's where our losses have come from this year, is giving up the big inning. Hopefully, we can stop doing that. If we do that, the pitching before and after has been really good. That's what we have to focus on. They know they can do it. If they bring that part of it for seven innings, we are in good shape."
The Lions will look to rebound as they hit the road to face Oklahoma Baptist on Tuesday. The Lady Bison are 21-26 on the season in their second year as a Division II program. The team previously had been a member of the NAIA before joining the Great American Conference.
"They have a good program," Bruister said. They are in the middle of the race in the GAC so it is going to be good competition for us, going on the road. We are looking forward to hopefully getting that taste of Angelo out of our mouth."
Still fighting for a spot in the regional tournament, Bruister knows the team needs to sweep OBU to improve its standing by defeating a regional foe. He knows his team will need to play together if they will have a shot to keep their season going after this week.
"We have to start playing as a team," he said. "Our team chemistry has got to get better. Sometimes we mesh in one area and not so much in the other area. We've got to get every aspect of our game going at the same time and make a run in the last week."
With five games remaining in the regular season, and A&M-Commerce on the fringe of both the regional and the conference tournament, Bruister knows his team will need to perform well for them to squeak into the postseason.
"We have to win all of them," he said. "That's where we are in the season. If we lose any of these games, we won't make regionals. And we have to win all three games this weekend to make the conference tournament. They are certainly must wins here in the last five."
