COMMERCE— The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team is set to kickoff the 2018 Lone Star Conference season with a home series against Tarleton State.
 
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (7-1, 0-0 LSC) vs. Tarleton State (12-0, 0-0 LSC)
WHERE: John Cain Family Softball Complex in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 & 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb 18 at 1 p.m.
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The Lions are coming off of an undefeated 3-0 week. They defeated St. Edward's 9-1 in six innings in their home opener. The team also played a doubleheader on Friday, defeating Newman 10-4 and Oklahoma Baptist 2-1. The team had four games halted or canceled due to cold weather. Head coach Richie Bruister lamented not being able to play the final three games of the weekend tournament.
 
"We were really looking forward to playing those teams on Saturday and Sunday," he said. "It was 58 degrees at 7 a.m. but then at 7:45 a.m., it was 43 degrees with a wind chill of about 32. That is too dangerous for the players. We have been trying to move around Mother Nature. She has her plans and we are trying to work around it."
 
In the three games the Lions were able to play, Bruister liked the way the top of his lineup was able to swing the bats and produce runs.
 
"We have a tough lineup to pitch to," he said. "I got an email the other day and it described it as death row. We have to give credit [not only to Kinsie, Mariah and Jodie but] to Ciera and Baylea at the top. They are the table setters and they are getting on base with better than a .500 on-base percentage. It is allowing those kids to drive in runs. It gives us a lot of opportunity to put runs up on the board."
 
Bruister also liked the pitching performances his bullpen was able to produce.
 
"They are doing a great job," he said. "Otto has been very stable for us at the number one. We are very proud of what she has done this year. And our other pitchers are doing a very good job. It is kind of pitch-by-committee and we are getting better. They are looking good in practice and we are looking forward to seeing how they pitch this weekend."
 
The Lions open up their conference season against an unbeaten Tarleton State team. The TexAnns are 12-0 so far on the season. Bruister is looking forward to the challenge of facing TSU.
 
"They have solid pitching," he said. "They are led by two of the same pitchers that they had last year. And they have brought in a transfer pitcher from Rogers State. Their pitching is what leads them. They have a good offense as well. We are prepared."
 
While Bruister respects all the teams in the LSC, he is confident his team will be up to the challenge of beating any one of them. The team used its fall season to play some Division I teams and had success, picking up wins against both teams. He hopes that success can carry over into the team's conference schedule and beyond.
 
"We started this fall going down and beating Baylor and North Texas," he said. "When you do that, you can beat anybody in our conference. That was the whole goal because we are going to face good teams. But we are pretty doggone good too. Our pitchers face the best hitters in the country in practice every day and they find ways to get them out. When you can pitch to our team, you are prepared for anybody in this conference."