COMMERCE – The Lone Star Conference regular season title is up for grabs on Saturday in Tyler as the No. 20 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team takes on top ranked Patriots in the regular season ending doubleheader.
WATCH: https://lonestarconferencenetwork.com/tamuc/
LIVE STATS GAME 1: http://statb.us/v/tame/385333
LIVE STATS GAME 2: http://statb.us/v/tame/385339
CLINCHING SCENARIOS
Both The Lions and the Patriots are mathematically alive to be the regular season champion and host the LSC Tournament going into the final weekend of the season.
The Patriots need one more win to clinch sole possession of the regular season title in their first full season as members of the LSC and being eligible for Division II postseason. The Lions need to win both games on Saturday to win the program's first conference title and host the conference tournament next week.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
The NCAA released the second edition of the South Central Regional rankings on Wednesday. The Lions are ranked No. 6 in the region once again, but their two wins over No. 4 ranked Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday were not factored in the standings. The Patriots are No. 1 in the region as well. The top two seeds in the region will be the hosts during the regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Lions dropped a spot in the national rankings this week, despite going 4-0 in four home games over Henderson State and Cameron, respectively. The Lions have been unranked for just one week this season, while the Patriots have been the No. 1 team in Division II for most of the season.
NATIONAL AND CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
A&M-Commerce's
Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) and
Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) swept the LSC Weekly awards this week. Schaefer was named the hitter of the week, while LeBlanc was named the pitcher of the week. Schaefer hit at one least home run in each series this past weekend and batted .556 in six wins for the Lions. She had the game-winning home run against Oklahoma Christian in game one on Tuesday, while recording multiple hits in four of the six games.
LeBlanc pitched in four of the six games this past week, collecting three wins and a save, while allowing just one earned run and striking out 24. She tossed a seven-inning no hitter in 1-0 win over Henderson State on Wednesday, picked up a complete game shutout win over Cameron on Friday, pitched in relief to get the save in game one against No. 15 Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday, and allowed just one run in complete game win over the Eagles in game two.
She was selected as the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 21 after 18.2 shutout innings with 32 strikeouts. She was also named the conference's top pitcher on February 22 and selected as the NFCA Pitcher of the Week that day as well.
Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) has also earned an LSC Pitcher of the Year award this season.
Sabrina Anguiano (Riverside, Calif.) was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week as well as the Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week on March 15. She batted .909 with three home runs and seven RBIs in four games against Western New Mexico and UT Permian Basin.
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
NFCA NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
A LOOK AT THE LIONS
A&M-Commerce has won six games in a row and is 39-11 on the season and 22-6 in LSC games. One more win this season gives the Lions 40 wins in a season for the third time in program history.
Anguiano is batting .383 to lead the team and also totaled 31 RBIs and eight home runs. Schaefer has 37 RBIs and seven home runs, while batting .353.
Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) and LeBlanc are tied for the team lead with 11 home runs. LeBlanc has 37 RBIs.
Leo Terry (Emory – Rains) has 26 stolen bases.
Otto is 19-3 in the circle with an ERA of 2.42 and 148 strikeouts, tossing 16 complete games. LeBlanc has 156 strikeouts, which is second in the conference and 14-6 on the season, allowing just one earned run in her last 19 innings.
WHAT'S AHEAD
The single elimination LSC Tournament begins next Thursday at the No. 1 seed. The LSC Tournament Championship is next Saturday, May 7, at 2 p.m.
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
In their first season as full members of NCAA Division II, the Patriots are 38-4 on the season, having won their last 11 games. Ashley Perez is batting .437 with 44 RBIs and hit team-leading eight home runs. Michelle Arias has seven RBIs and 37 RBIs, while batting .350. Amanda Marek is batting .340.
Sarah Gartman is pitching to an ERA of 1.32 with a record of 8-0 in 19 appearances. Tatum Goff is 7-3 with 90 strikeouts and posting an ERA of 1.62 and Kylee Davis is 8-0 with an ERA of 1.85.
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