LSC Softball Weekly Release - Week 3
UT Tyler (10-0) is the lone unbeaten Lone Star Conference team after three weeks of non-conference contests. Angelo State and Cameron both posted perfect weeks at 6-0 and 4-0, respectively.
A full schedule of non-conference games is set for this week.
LSC softball teams are playing a single round-robin conference schedule with a doubleheader (two games) against each league opponent. The LSC Champion will be the team(s) with the best winning percentage in regular-season conference games.
The single-elimination LSC Championship featuring the top 10 teams will be played April 30-May 2, at the No. 1 seed. The winner of the postseason championship will be recognized as LSC Tournament Champion and receive the league's automatic qualification into NCAA postseason.
LSC softball teams are 131-88 overall this season. In the NCAA Division II South Central Region, the group is currently 34-14 combined versus Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams.
LSC schedule and results available here: http://www.lonestarconference.org/calendar.aspx?path=softball&&
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
HITTER
Jayme Johns, St. Mary's University, SO, Marketing, 2B, Elgin, Texas, Elgin High School
Johns helped the Rattlers to a 3-2 week at the Cactus Classic in Tucson with wins over Dixie State, Hawaii Hilo, and California (Pa). The sophom*ore collected 11 hits in five games, extending her hitting streak to 11 games this season. Johns recorded a hit in every game with multiple hits in four of the five contests. She finished the week hitting .579 with a .737 slugging percentage. For the season, the second baseman is hitting .444 with 24 hits.
PITCHER
Turner Whorton, Cameron University, SR, Sports and Exercise Science, Pitcher, Hollis, Okla., Hollis HS
Whorton has been a bright spot for the Aggies this spring and continued that this weekend with a pair of wins and a sub-1.00 ERA. She opened up the weekend with one-hitter against Northwestern Oklahoma State, striking out six and allowing just one run on a solo homer in her six innings in the circle. Whorton struck out four in her two no-hit innings of work against Nebraska-Kearney the next day. The senior hurler followed that up with her second win of the weekend, giving up just two hits in five scoreless innings against Regis. Whorton ended the weekend with 11 strikeouts and an opponents' batting average of .075.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Hitter
F-3 Jaiden Johnson, Oklahoma Christian
F-11 Haleigh Swinney, UT Tyler
F-18 Jayme Johns, St. Mary's
Pitcher
F-3 Breanna Smith, Texas A&M-Kingsville
F-11 Meagan Hill, Angelo State
F-18 Turner Whorton, Cameron
SELECTED NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Athena Muniz, Lubbock Christian University, opened the Edmond Regional Festival with a 6-for-7 performance through the opening two games and finished with a .500 average on the 3-2 week for LCU. She had a pair of three-hit performances, which also included a trio of RBI in the two games. She hit her first home run of the season (vs. Rogers State) and finished the week with three extra-base hits (two doubles) and four RBI. Muniz was 4-of-7 (.571) with runners in scoring position.
Kristen Zuehl, Tarleton State University, had a career weekend as she led the Texans to five wins over six games at the George McCorkle Challenge in San Angelo. The sophom*ore third baseman hit .500 in 18 at bats with a team-high 11 RBI - all of which came over the five wins. Her weekend moved her to No. 4 in the Lone Star Conference in RBI (17). In her 9-of-18 weekend at the plate, she had hits in five of the six games including a career-high four hits against New Mexico Highlands Friday night. She had four multi-RBI games on the weekend, including three three-RBI efforts. Zuehl had three-RBI performances in each of the first two games and followed up with another on the first game Sunday against Texas A&M International. She also had four extra-base hits, including two doubles and two triples.
Lani Graft, The University of Texas Permian Basin, was terrific, helping the Falcons take three wins in Tucson over the weekend. The junior went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI in the Falcons high scoring loss to Lindenwood. Graft doubled and homered, her first of the season. She followed that performance with a double and scored the only Falcon run against Simon Fraser. In the weekend finale, Graft went 2-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. The junior now leads the Falcons with 11 runs scored and is fourth with a .325 batting average.
Lindsey Stoeckel, Oklahoma Christian University, shined both as a batter and pitcher as the Eagles went 3-2 in the Edmond Regional Festival. She drove in three runs in a 10-2 win over Colorado State-Pueblo and delivered a fifth-inning hit that helped break open what had been a tight game. As a pitcher, she went 1-1 on the week, striking out nine batters in 8 2/3 innings of work and picking up the win against CSU-Pueblo.
Alexis Massie, St. Edward's University, led SEU at the plate, logging four hits in 10 at-bats and was second in the team in RBIs.
Elysa Rodriguez , Eastern New Mexico University, assisted in the Hounds three wins this past weekend in the Cactus Classic as she recorded three or more at bats in each winning game and at least one hit. The senior is at a .387 batting average after posting a .394 average from this past weekend.
Jordan Withrow, Tarleton State University, was superb in her three outings at the George McCorkle Challenge. She pitched a team-high 16.0 innings and struck out 25 batters. In her 16.0 innings of work, Withrow allowed just one earned run - three total - and held opponents to a .186 average. She spun her 19th career complete game shutout on Feb. 15 against Texas A&M International with 12 strikeouts.
Genesis Armendariz, Angelo State University, had an excellent weekend for the Rambelles in the George and Ola McCorkle Challenge. Armendariz threw a 1.47 ERA for the weekend, throwing 14.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and allowing only five runs. She allowed a .232 opponents' batting average for the week.
McKenna Leamon, St. Edward's University, made two appearances this weekend and logged one win while striking out 12. She allowed just one extra base hit and held opponents to .235 at the plate.
Kali Crandall, Oklahoma Christian University, continued her unbeaten run to start the season, moving to 6-0 (tied for the LSC lead in that category) with wins against Fort Hays State and Northeastern State in the Edmond Regional Festival. She allowed only one run (unearned) and had eight strikeouts in six innings in the 8-1 win over Fort Hays State, a game that was tied until the bottom of the sixth inning. She struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings but took a no-decision in a 5-4 loss to Colorado-Colorado Springs before throwing a complete-game three-hitter in a 9-1 win over Northeastern State.
Jordan Wehr, Lubbock Christian University, appeared in a trio of games at the Edmond Regional Festival, making her way into a decision in all three games, as she claimed wins in each of her two starts and had a save (vs. No.7 Central Oklahoma) in her only relief appearance. She posted a complete game (7.0 innings) against Chadron State.
Marissa Salinas, The University of Texas Permian Basin, continued her hot start with three complete games in Tucson this past weekend. The junior started the weekend in dominating fashion, tossing a complete game and striking out 12 in a 7-6 win over California (Pa.). She closed the weekend strong, allowing just six runs over 14 innings. She was brilliant, allowing just two runs in a tough 2-1 loss to Simon Fraser. She responded by finishing the weekend by beating Hawaii at Hilo, allowing just two earned runs over seven innings. She also did damage at the plate, hitting a home run and driving in four as the Falcons picked up three wins on the weekend.
Brook Leger, Eastern New Mexico University, took to the circle for all eight innings in ENMU 7-5 win over the regionally ranked Colorado Mesa. Leger allowed one home run, eight hits and five runs while striking out 11 players.
