KINGSVILLE, Texas – Following a brief but productive break from conference play, the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team returns to Lone Star Conference competition with a trip to Wichita Falls, Texas for three games with the Midwestern State Mustangs at Mustangs Park. This series was originally scheduled to begin on Friday, but weather concerns forced it to be pushed back a day. The Javelinas and Mustangs will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game beginning at 2 p.m. On Sunday, they'll play the series finale at 12 p.m.
The Javelinas used a doubleheader against the Texas A&M International Dustdevils to shake off a seven-game losing streak. The Hoggies swept their twin bill with TAMIU at Hubert Field with Breanna Smith winning both games. The sophomore southpaw entered in relief in the first contest and recorded the last five outs while her team pushed across the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. She then took the ball in game two and threw all seven innings, allowing only an unearned run and striking out five. This marked Smith's third complete game of the season in six starts and she currently occupies spots in the Lone Star Conference's top 10 in innings pitched, with 37.2, and wins, with four.
In the victory that completed Kingsville's sweep, Roxy Chapa's first inning homer gave Craig Nicholson's team the lead and Chapa's three long balls are tops on the roster, as is her .366 batting average. Haley Boyett's .463 on-base percentage and eight walks have helped her total a team-high eight runs to go with a .290 BA. Chapa and Boyett are two of five players who have started every game for TAMUK in 2018.
The Mustangs have been red hot during the season's first month, putting together an 8-2 record and they are 3-0 in LSC after sweeping UT Permian Basin a week ago. This weekend's series will be the first three games for MSU at Mustangs Park, where they went 15-8 in 2017. Midwestern State got off to a very rocky start in 2018, losing 11-0 in five innings to Colorado School of Mines. Since then, however, the Mustangs have won eight of nine, not allowing more than five runs in any contest. In their last three games, MSU's offense has come to life, outscoring UTPB 30-7.
The three players who have been fueling coach Mark Ryal's offense are Kelcee Thompson, Tucker Caraway and Samantha Loos, all of whom have averages hovering around .350., led by Thompson's .357. Loos, who is hitting .346, has been the Mustangs' most dangerous hitter in the season's first month. The junior infielder has piled up five homers, two of which came in MSU's first game against UTPB on Feb. 17th. She's also crafted a slugging percentage of .962, placing her in the conference's top 10.
Four different pitchers have started at least one game for coach Ryal so far this season and Abbie Lancaster has logged the most innings 24 while posting a 3-1 record and a 3.50 ERA. Right-hander Riley Adams has gotten off to the team's best start in the circle. She currently stands at 3-0 this season combined with a 2.47 ERA.
Visit Javelinaathletics.com for the recap of the action on both days in Wichita Falls. To keep up with the team all year, check out Javelina softball on Twitter @TAMUKSB and fans can also like /JavelinaSports on Facebook and subscribe to the Javelina athletics YouTube channel.
