COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team makes just its second ever trip to the eastern time zone this weekend when the No. 22 ranked Lions head to North Georgia for the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic, hosted by the No. 5 ranked Nighthawks.
LIONS' TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: https://ungathletics.com/sports/2019/2/11/captain_ds_classic.aspx
THE LIONS
A&M-Commerce is 5-1 on the season, having won four games in a row, including two wins over ranked teams. The Lions downed No. 2 Augustana, 4-3 in 10 innings in the season opener, and beat No. 25 Central Missouri, 2-0, on Monday. The Lions play the Nighthawks twice this weekend.
The Lions swept the four games at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational last weekend, including an in-region win over the Colorado School of Mines.
Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) is the reigning Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week. She collected three complete game wins last week, including a one-hit shutout against Central Missouri. She posted an ERA of 1.75 over 24 innings last week.
The Lions averaged 4.3 runs in the six games last week.
Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) drove in seven runs on an slugging percentage of .611 and also had a home run.
Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge) brought home runs, including the walk-off hit against Augustana. Freshman
Leo Terry (Emory Rains) batted .333 with 21 at-bats last week.
Before this weekend, the Lions' only games in the eastern time zone was the NFCA Lead-Off Classic, hosted in Clearwater, Florida, in 2017. The Lions are playing all three teams this weekend for the first time.
THE NIGHTHAWKS
North Georgia started the season in Alabama at the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Nighthawks went 2-2 with a run-rule 11-1 win over Delta State and a 4-1 win over No. 17 West Florida. North Georgia made it to Denver, Colorado, for the NCAA Division II Championships last year, finishing in third place.
Thus far this season, Jolie Lester drove in five runs on a batting average of .357. Madison Simmons batted .500 last weekend and drove in three runs. Pitcher Tybee Denton posted an ERA of 0.58 in 12 innings last week, both were complete game wins. She was named Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
THE SENATORS
Davis & Elkins started the season with two losses at Wingate last Saturday. The Senators went 11-21 last season.
Jenna Evans and Ava Willis started the two games for the Senators. Evans pitched to an ERA of 3.36 in 8.1 innings. At the plate, Kailynn Parks recorded an average of .429 and slugged .429. Anjolina Gutierrez drove in three runs.
THE MOCS
Florida Southern has appeared in two tournaments thus far this season, but has had three games canceled due to weather. The Mocs are 4-1 on the season, going 2-1 against Flagler and 2-0 against Georgia Southwestern State. Florida Southern posted a record of 7-17 last spring.
Jadin Dewith is slugging .615 thus far this season, she had seven hits. Myah Moy is batting .412 with three RBI's. In the circle, Lane Edgington tossed a shutout win as did Tiana Hernandez.
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce heads to Canyon to take on Adams State, Fort Lewis, and Northern State on February 18-20 at the West Texas A&M Invitational.
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Lion Athletics Mission: Committed to a "Best in Class" experience for all.
