Eastern New Mexico softball will entertain two nationally ranked opponents during its opening weekend at Greyhound Softball Field. First, the Hounds will face #23 Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday, Mar. 4, for a pair of games at 2 pm and 4 pm. Then, Eastern will welcome #1 UT Tyler on Sunday, Mar. 6, in a doubleheader at 11 am and 1 pm. The national rankings are from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

LAST TIME OUT

ENMU were handed defeat in its last weekend of action, against Lubbock Christian University, 8-0 (6 Inn.) and 5-1. The Hounds offense were held to just three hits in game one, and posted six hits in game two. Lisette Urquidez scored the lone run for the Hounds and had three hits over the two games.

SCOUTING THE HOUNDS

The Greyhounds hold a 7-9 standing overall and open its conference schedule this weekend. Eastern’s lineup has a batting average of .260, scoring 78 runs, from 101 hits, and driving in 64 RBI’s. In the circle, ENMU hold an ERA of 5.55 with 122 strikeouts. The Hounds pitching staff has allowed just 111 hits, 75 earned runs, and 55 walks.

Urquidez holds the best batting average on the team, with a BA of .458 while leading the Hounds in hits (22), runs scored (11), and RBI’s (21). Jokaira Paredes and Brook Leger are next for batting average, with a .387 and .300 batting average, respectively. Leger is also the Hounds premier pitcher with a team low 2.52 ERA with 99 strikeouts this season and a record of 6-3.

Statistically speaking, Urquidez ranks in the top 10 for the conference for RBIs (21) and total bases (38). The Hounds as a team lead the conference in strikeouts with 122, and Leger is the individual leader for strikeouts (99) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.9). Leger also is in the top ten in all of Division II for both categories when it comes to strikeouts. Leger is currently 4^th in strikeouts in the nation and 6^th for strikeouts per seven innings.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

#23 Texas A&M University-Commerce

The Lions come into Friday’s game as the #23 team in the nation, with a record of 14-4 overall and three of its four losses are against nationally ranked teams. Recently, TAMUC bested Southeastern Oklahoma State in a pair of games, 5-1 and 10-4.

This season, Texas A&M-Commerce post a batting average of .317, with 151 hits, and 114 RBI’s. The Lions are one of the best teams on the base paths with 51 stolen bases this season (2^nd in conference, 9^th in nation). Overall, Lions pitching allow just 2.68 runs per game, conceding just 61 runs, from 105 hits.

Individually, the Lions have six batters hitting over .300 with MacKenzie Dugi leading the way with a .442 batting average. Leo Terry leads the team with 21 hits, and Ayanna Williams provides a team high 23 RBI’s. Emily Otto leads the Lions pitching with a 7-1 record, sporting a 1.85 ERA and six complete games. Alyssa LeBlanc is next for TAMUC with a 3-2 record in five starts, and an ERA of 3.42 with three complete games.

#1 The University of Texas at Tyler

The #1 team in the nation enter the weekend with a record of 14-0 and will play #4 West Texas A&M on Friday, Mar. 4, before playing Eastern. Last season, the Patriots finished as the top team in the conference with a 27-3 conference record, and 33-7 overall. Recently, UTT beat Arkansas at Monticello twice, 10-1 (5 Inn.) and 8-0 (6 Inn.).

UT Tyler hold the best batting average in the conference at .432, landing 4^th in all of Division II. The Patriots are the top scoring team in the nation, averaging over 10 runs per game (10.57 r/g), and hold the second-best slugging percentage in Division II, best in conference, at .682. In total, the Patriots have 167 hits, 134 RBI’s, and 148 runs scored. The Patriots pitchers hold teams with a 2.06 ERA, allowing 72 hits, and 28 runs.

UTT has eight regular starters with a batting average over .400, and Michelle Arias leads the group with a .526 batting average. Arias has 20 hits and leads the team with 27 RBI’s. Courtney Piocheck leads the team in hits with 22, while Bayli Simon and Ashley Perez each have 21 hits this season. Payton Foster is 8-0 so far this campaign with a 1.99 ERA in eight starts with two complete games. Sarah Gartman leads the team with a 0.64 ERA along with a 4-0 record.