COMMERCE— The No. 6 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team returns to Lone Star Conference action with a three-game home stand against No. 13 West Texas A&M, starting Saturday.
 
WHO: No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce (31-3, 16-2 LSC) vs. No. 13 West Texas A&M (29-5, 12-3 LSC)
WHERE: John Cain Family Softball Complex in Commerce, Texas
WHEN: Saturday, April 7 at 3 & 5 p.m., Sunday, April 8 at 2 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE WEBCAST: lionathletics.com/live
TICKETS: Admission is free with a local ID or voucher found at local businesses
 
The Lions swept their road series against Eastern New Mexico last week, winning all three games by at least seven runs. The Lions averaged 12 runs per game during the series. Head coach Richie Bruister was proud of the way his team played.
 
"We did what we were supposed to do," he said. "It was tough travel to go out to Portales. It was a long bus ride. It takes forever to get out there. You are tired and those are things you have to deal with. Obviously, our team did well of handling the situation and did a good job. I'm certainly proud of the way we played this last weekend."

For her efforts, Jodie Hill was named LSC Hitter of the Week. She hit .727 with four home runs, a grand slam and 11 RBIs. She is the third different Lion hitter to be named Hitter of the Week, and the team has won the award seven times so far during the nine weeks of the season. Bruister likes the way his batters are swinging, and likes that the production is coming from all across the lineup.
 
"Our hitters are obviously doing great," Bruister said. "They work hard every day. The way our lineup is built, when we were out recruiting we wanted a lineup that is deep. If you choose not to pitch to a certain batter, the next batter has just as good an opportunity to do something big. We saw that this week for Jodie Hill. She had a grand slam, a three-run home run. She had 11 RBIs on the weekend. They were choosing not to pitch to the middle of our lineup but you still have to pitch to hitters like Jodie. She was swinging the bat great this weekend. She didn't get cheated either. She hit some long home runs. I'm very proud of her. She has worked very hard and has been making the transition from junior college to here. She is doing an outstanding job."

The Lions now are ready to face No. 13 West Texas A&M. A perennial powerhouse in the LSC and all of Division II, Bruister is excited for the teams to play again. He knows it will be a battle against two nationally ranked squads. He looks forward to seeing three very good games and is confident his squad is up to the challenge.
 
"It is exciting for the fans," he said. "We as coaches know it is the best conference in the country. Every single week you are playing a tough opponent. It is a wonderful opportunity for all of our fans, whether you are Lion fans or WT fans, to come out and watch the best softball in the country. It is two top-ranked reams going at it. We look forward to it. We have prepared all year. Our schedule prepares us for games like these. We have played some very quality teams already and have had great success.

"We know going in it is going to be a battle and a heavyweight match. They are going to try and hit us hard and we are going to hit them back. That is just Lone Star style softball. We know what is coming. They know us and we know them. That is what makes it fun. We look forward to these weekends. There are going to be some tight ball games. It is going to be exciting and is wonderful all around for everybody to come and watch the best softball in the country."

Admission to all three games during the weekend will be complimentary to fans with a local ID or who have a voucher that can be picked up at several local businesses throughout Commerce. The games are sponsored by MUGS on the Square and the Lion Champions Fund. Bruister looks forward to some big crowds. He is excited to put on a show and provide some of the best entertainment in the city of Commerce for an unbeatable price. He hopes fans take advantage.
 
"I still get people asking us how we are doing," he said. "It is great that people are asking and it is obviously an easy answer back. But if you don't know how we are doing or if you still haven't seen a softball game, come out this weekend. You have an opportunity, with MUGS and other businesses who have sponsored, to get in free. You are getting outstanding entertainment for free in the city of Commerce. You certainly want to take advantage of that. It is a beautiful facility. You are right on top of the action. You can't ask for anything better."