COMMERCE – After the longest scheduled break of the season, the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team returns to action with the South Texas swing this weekend, starting in Laredo.
 
WHO: A&M-Commerce at Texas A&M International
WHERE: Laredo | Dustdevil Softball Field
WHEN: Noon on Friday, April 9
RECORDS: A&M-Commerce is 21-8 overall and 14-2 in the Lone Star Conference. TAMIU is 19-9 overall and 12-4 in LSC play.
RANKINGS: A&M-Commerce is fourth nationally in the NFCA Division II Coaches' Poll, and A&M International is receiving votes.

LIVE VIDEO: LSC Digital Network
LIVE STATS: http://statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=tame
 
The latest… 
While ranking eighth in the LSC in batting average at .302 and runs per game at 5.69, pitching and defense have carried the Lions this season. TAMUC leads the nation in shutouts at 11 and the .983 fielding percentage ranks fifth in the nation and leads the conference. The Lions carry a .412 on-base percentage thanks to 120 walks drawn, which leads the conference.
 
Madison Schaefer still leads the conference in on-base percentage at .573, with a .440 batting average, .833 slugging percentage, and 30 runs scored, which all rank fourth in the league. She leads the league with 25 walks and is tied for the league lead with nine homers.
 
Kinsie Hebler is second in the league behind Schaefer in walks with 24. Samantha Dutton ranks second in the league in batting average at .468 and fifth in on-base percentage at .537.
 
In the circle, Alyssa LeBlanc leads the conference with 125 strikeouts and is sixth in ERA at 1.74 in 92.2 innings pitched. Her 13 wins are second in the conference, as are her two saves. Emily Otto's 3.02 ERA ranks in the top 15 in the conference and her 89 strikeouts is fifth.
 
On the opponent…
The Dustdevils are led by pitcher Ericka Cortez, who is second in the conference with 123 strikeouts and leads the conference in K-BB ratio at 11.18. Her 0.88 WHIP leads the conference as well.
 
Brianna Arredondo leads the conference with 10 homers and Shelby Edwards' .395 average ranks 18th in the LSC. Arredondo has a .770 slugging percentage to rank in the top 10 in the conference and her 37 RBIs is third in the league.  
 
On the series history…
The Lions have a 9-4 mark against the Dustdevils entering the series, including wins in the last three and six of the last seven.
 
The Lions won two games in the first weekend of the season against TAMIU, not allowing a run in a 13-0 run-rule win and a 6-0 shutout.
 
This is the first meeting in Laredo since 2017, which resulted in a pair of Lion wins in their only visit.