KINGSVILLE, Texas – Less than a month remains in the 2019 regular season for the No. 5 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team and they'll look to hold on to first place in the Lone Star Conference when they visit the team that was picked to finish first in the conference in the preseason, the Angelo State Rambelles, who'll host the Javelinas for three games beginning on Friday night at Mayer Field in San Angelo, Texas.
The series was originally scheduled to include one game on Friday and two on Saturday, but, due to the forecast of inclement weather, that has been altered. The Javelinas and Rambelles will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 5 p.m. and a 2 p.m. series' finale on Saturday.
ASU started the season sixth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll after consecutive trips to the Women's College World Series in 2017 and 2018. They also spent a week at No. 1 in the national rankings, but since rising to that spot, the Rambelles have gone 13-15 and dropped out of the poll. Their overall record of 26-16 combined with a 12-12 mark in the LSC still has them in position to make the postseason, however. They currently have a stranglehold on the sixth and final spot in the conference tournament, two-and-a-half games better then seventh place Texas Woman's.
The biggest difference between the Rambelles in 2019 compared to 2018 has been the team's pitching staff. A year ago, seniors Morgan Hill and Brandy Marlett finished first and second in the conference in ERA and combined for 41 wins.
This season, Angelo's team ERA has dropped from first in the LSC to seventh at 4.52. Sophomore Meagan Hill has been the most frequent presence on the mound for ASU and her totals of 12 wins and 89 strikeouts are both in the top 10 in the conference. Hill picked up her 12th win in relief, throwing six innings out of the bullpen in 5-4 victory in her team's last game, which was against Cameron on Saturday.
Coach Travis Scott still has a formidable lineup at his disposal. The Rambelles are hitting .300 as a team through 42 games and the 275 runs they've scored are the third-most in the conference behind No. 8 A&M-Commerce and No. 7 West Texas. Scott can pencil four players who own an OPS of over .900 into his everyday lineup, led by former LSC Freshman of the Year Courtney Barnhill. Her 41 RBIs are fourth in the LSC and she's also scored 43 times, which puts her third.
The Javelina pitching staff has taken up the mantle previously held by ASU of best ERA in the LSC with a mark of 2.05. TAMUK recently had a streak of 32 consecutive scoreless innings and their team ERA of 2.05 is still among the top 25 in the nation. Junior Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) and freshman Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) are both pitching to ERAs under two and Castillo's 158 strikeouts rank 10th in the nation. Her 19 wins are also fifth in the country and one more victory would make her the program's first 20-game winner since 2009.
Seven Javelinas own batting averages over .300 and while sophomore Anastasia Leibas (Del Valle, Texas) is the only player in the conference's top 10 in batting average, TAMUK is hitting .329 as a team, behind only West Texas A&M in the league. Sophomore Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) has been the team's table-setter, batting .357 out of the lead-off spot. Her 31 stolen bases are a conference-best and 12th in Division II. Two more steals will give Kelly the program record for stolen bases in a season.
On Javelinaathletics.com, fans can find links to live video and stats for all three games and be sure to check in after the final out for a comprehensive recap. To stay up-to-date with Javelina softball all season long, follow @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaSports on Instagram, like Javelina Sports on Facebook and visit Javelinaathletics.com.
