Softball | 2/3/2015 5:31:00 PM
KINGSVILLE, Texas – After being postponed a day because of rain, the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team begins the 2015 season and
Betsy Dean era on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Texas A&M International. First pitch of game one will take place at 1 p.m. on Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field.
Scouting Texas A&M-Kingsville
The Javelinas finished 14-42 in 2014 and posted a 5-23 mark in the Lone Star Conference. They finished the year by going 4-4 over their last eight games as they split with Angelo State, Eastern New Mexico and St. Edward's.
Valerie Ramirez is the top offensive returner for the Blue and Gold as she led the team last season with a .306 batting average, four home runs and 30 RBI. Back for her fourth year with the program is
Jaeleen Castro. She hit .280 with 21 RBI, 17 runs and swiped five bases, the most among the returners.
Serving as the designated player last year,
Myrissa Sanchez posted a .231 average while recording 17 runs, 15 RBI, two doubles and triples and a round-tripper.
Ariana Munoz saw limited action (five games) in 2014.
Carlie Clark saw action in 32 games, 27 of them starts, while tossing 12 complete games in the circle. She recorded a 6-19 record with a 5.39 ERA in 149.1 innings, 86 walks and 77 strikeouts.
Ariel Kellogg was 3-12 while posting an ERA of 6.57 in 92.2 frames. Also back is
Katie Tapley who posted a 3-8 mark in 19 games and recorded TAMUK's lone save. The squad will feature three new pitchers in
Sandy Guerrero,
Bella Rosas and
Karri Smith.
Scouting Texas A&M InternationalTexas A&M International is coming off a 20-36 season while finishing tied for fifth in the Heartland Conference with a 10-14 record. They qualified for the conference tournament, dropping two games to St. Edward's and defeating Texas-Permian Basin. The Dustdevils were 8-6 at home, 4-22 on the road and 8-8 at neutral sites. In the HC's preseason poll, TAMUI was picked to finish fifth behind Lubbock Christian, St. Mary's, Oklahoma Christian and St. Edward's.
From last season, the Dustdevils returns nine players with eight seeing significant action at the plate. Brenda Parnin is the top returner with a .324 average, 42 doubles, 15 doubles six stolen and two triples. Mariena Gallardo is back after hitting a team-high eight homers in 2014. She also drove in 29 runs and scored 30 times while hitting .257. Chelsea Capello scored a team-high 31 runs and added four dingers and 21 RBI.
Anna Parnin saw action in 44 games but hit only .216 with 11 runs, 10 RBI and two round trippers. Samantha Gutierrez was the primary pinch runner for TAMUI, appearing in 33 games. She scored seven times and swiped two bags. Seeing limited playing time as well was Xcaret Ramirez (13 games) and Ariana Reyes (5 games).
In the circle, Sarah Johnson returns after going 7-12 with a 5.68 ERA in 113.1 innings. She also struck out 47 while walking 44 in 24 games, 17 starts. Johnson also tossed seven complete games. Gallardo saw time in the circle as well, posting a 7-12 mark. She had a 5.97 ERA in 104.1 frames spanning 30 games with 11 complete games and three shutouts. Three freshmen (Brandi Giles, Kayla Merriman and Delainy Thompson) join the pitching staff this year.
Season OpenersTexas A&M-Kingsville is 9-9 all-time in season openers. They have lost two straight with the last win coming in 2012 versus Texas-Permian Basin (13-0, 5 innings).
Opening at HomeWhen beginning their year at Hubert Field, TAMUK is 7-3. The Javelinas have won five straight dating back to 2004. Their last defeat in the season opener at home came against St. Mary's in 2003. This year will be the first time the Blue and Gold will begin their season at home in four years.
Opening SeriesThe Javelinas are 29-25 all-time in their first series or tournament of a season. Last season TAMUK went 2-3 last season to begin the year at a tournament hosted by St. Mary's in San Antonio, Texas.
LSC Preseason PollTexas A&M-Kingsville was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Lone Star Conference this year by head coaches, sports information directors and various media members and sports information directors. Last season the Javelinas were also picked eighth when the conference consisted of eight programs. This is the second time in three years the Blue and Gold have been picked to finish next to last in the LSC.
Live stats and will be available for both games with links available on the softball schedule page.
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