KINGSVILLE, Texas – Having started the season with visits to three different spots, the No. 17 Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team is finally ready to play at home for the first time in 2022 and the Javelinas' schedule at Hubert Field begins with a Monday doubleheader against the Texas A&M International Dustdevils scheduled to start at 3 p.m. in Kingsville, Texas.
There aren't many teams in Division II that are swinging hotter bats than the Javelinas, who are hitting a prodigious .431, a mark good enough for fifth in the nation. TAMUK has currently scored at least 10 runs in their last five games, the longest such streak in program history. The team's 13-1 record also represents their best start to a season since they were 16-1 in 2019.
The list of Blue and Gold players swinging hot bats is a long one, as seven different players are hitting over .400. Only one player in the Lone Star Conference has a higher batting average than junior Matisen Onofrei (Mesa, Ariz.), who owns a .585 clip, has a 10-game hitting streak and is coming off a week in which she collected 10 hits in 14 at-bats.
In the circle, the Javs have been just as impressive, allowing only eight runs in their last 12 games. TAMUK's 1.17 ERA is third-best in the nation and the pitching staff of freshman Carissa De Los Santos (Kingsville, Texas), sophomores Beth Montes (San Antonio, Texas) and Lizette Del Angel (Robstown, Texas) and junior Saidi Castillo (Kingsville, Texas) has tossed six shutouts. Castillo has not allowed a run in her last 19 innings, while Montes has struck out 25 in 28 1/3 innings against only two walks.
The Dustdevils are coming off a 2021 season that was their most successful in years and saw them only narrowly miss out on a spot in the NCAA Tournament. So far in 2022, TAMIU has been unable to carry over their success from the previous season, winning only six of their first 16 games. The schedule has not been kind to coach Scott Libby's team however, as half of their losses have come to ranked teams.
The most impressive numbers on TAMIU's stat sheet are being put up by junior Heather Ruiz, who's hitting .455 and her 11 runs scored are nearly twice as many as anyone else on the roster. Ruiz has multiple hits in four of her team's last six games and has logged two hits or more seven times in 2022.
For live coverage of Monday's twin bill, visit Javelinaathletics.com, where links to live video and stats will be available, as well as a postgame recap. Stay current with Javelina softball by following @TAMUKSB and @JavelinaSports on both Twitter and Instagram, liking the Javelina Sports Facebook page, subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel and visiting Javelinaathletics.com. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
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