COMMERCE – The East Texas A&M university softball team returns home to host Lamar this weekend, beginning a four-game home stand.
LIONS' WEEKEND SCHEDULE AT HOME
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LIONS
The Lions host Grambling for the second time this season in a mid-week game on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
A NEW ERA OF LION SOFTBALL BEGINS
East Texas A&M is now a full Division I member, achieving full member status a year ahead of schedule, and is eligible to compete in the NCAA Tournament this season.
The Lions also debut their new Nike uniforms, being the only school in the Southland that is outfitted by Nike.
STREAK SNAPPED AGAINST THE ISLANDERS
The Lions took the series finale over A&M-Corpus Christi last Saturday to snap a 20-game losing streak and pick up their first Southland Conference win of the year. With the win, East Texas A&M is now 4-2 against the Islanders over the last two seasons. It was also the first road win of the season and third for the Lions in the Division I era.
CHALLENGED THE BEST OF THE BEST
Last week, the Lions took on defending national champion and No. 3/3 Texas, falling in five innings. The Lions have now played the defending national champion in each of the past three seasons. The Longhorns have rised to being ranked No. 2 in most major polls this week.
PAST THE HALF-WAY MARK
East Texas A&M has six wins on the season following the series at A&M-Corpus Christi. The Lions' fifth win of the season came in the ninth game, which is the earliest the Lions have won their fifth game in the Division I era. East Texas A&M is past the half-way mark of equalling to last season's win total of 10 games, which is the most in a season in the Division I era.
LIONS LOVE TURNING TWO
The Lions have turned 10 double plays this year, which is 72nd in the country and leads the Southland Conference. The Lions turned 23 double plays in 52 games last season.
STEAL AT YOUR OWN RISK
As a team, the Lions have caught 18 runners stealing, with
Gracie Alejo (Waco - Connally) leading the way with 10 caught stealing by on the year. Alejo is fourth in the country and first in the Southland with her total.
SMALL BALL GETS THE JOB DONE
The Lions have 15 sacrifice bunts on the season, which is 59th in the country and third in the conference.
SHE'S SO FAST, SHE'S SO SAFE
KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) has recorded three triples thus far this season, which puts her 30th in the country as well as third in the conference.
KLOEPPER AND MULLER FINDING THEIR GROOVE
Both
Madison Kloepper (Llano) and
Maddie Muller (Frisco - Memorial) have appeared in 19 games this season, which puts the duo tied for 40th in the country and fifth in the Southland. The two pitchers have combined to win five of the team's six winning decisions this year.
HOME RUN QUEENS OF THE SOUTHLAND
Last season, East Texas A&M hit 38 home runs, which led the Southland Conference. The eight home runs hit by the Lions thus far this season ranks them seventh in the conference.
Tatum Wright (Frisco - Centennial) has hit six home runs this year, which is fourth in the conference.
LOOKING TO REPEAT HISTORY
East Texas A&M is looking to return to the Southland Conference Tournament for the second year in a row. Last season, the Lions made their first ever postseason appearance in the Division I era and won 10 games overall, which is the most in the Division I era.
HELLO NEWCOMERS
This season's rosters features eight newcomers, with five being freshmen and three being transfers. All newcomers have appeared in at least one game this season.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Lamar is 14-15 on the season and 2-4 in Southland Conference play, having taken the series at home over SFA last week. The Cardinals have won their last three, including a run-rule shutout win over Texas State in Beaumont on Wednesday. Lamar's marquee non-conference wins include Illinois (twice), Austin Peay, and Sam Houston (twice). The Cardinals are 10-0 all-time against the Lions, though the last four games have been decided by two runs or less, including three one-run wins by the Cardinals. This is a rematch of last season's SLC Tournament in which the Cardinals won 6-5 over the Lions in an elimination game.
Isabella Flores is hitting .360 on the season with team-best 23 RBIs as well as two home runs, while Cala Wilson leads the team with five home runs and has 22 RBIs on a batting average of .318. Reagan Smith has appeared in 13 games and started 10, which both leads the team. She is pitching to an ERA of 4.06 with 42 strikeouts.
-ETAMU-
