Kingsville - Though its streak of three straight weekends with a matchup against a top-10 opponent is coming to an end, the Texas A&M - Kingsville can't skip a beat, as it hosts St. Edward's, who is fresh off of a pair of wins over No.18 Oklahoma Christian, in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Javelina Softball Weekend Schedule

Friday, March 21st:
Doubleheader VS St. Edward's (FloCollege)
4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Projected Starters:
TAMUK Game One: Arianna Alaniz (Fr. RHP) - (7-6), 2.94 ERA, 64.1 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 40 H, 21 ER, .168 oAVG, 101 Ks
SEU Game One: TBA
TAMUK Game Two: Esther Martinez (Fr. LHP) - (3-3), 4.15 ERA, 57.1 IP, 1.63 WHIP, 67 H, 34 ER, .286 oAVG, 28 Ks
SEU Game Two: TBA

Sunday, March 23rd:
Doubleheader VS St. Mary's (FloCollege)
1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Projected Starters:
TAMUK Game One: Arianna Alaniz (Fr. RHP) - (7-6), 2.28 ERA, 64.1 IP, 0.93 WHIP, 40 H, 21 ER, .168 oAVG, 101 Ks
STM Game One: Emily Ayala (Jr. RHP) - (5-1), 2.28 ERA, 46.0 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 43 H, 15 ER, .240 oAVG, 23 Ks
TAMUK Game Two: Esther Martinez (Fr. LHP) - (3-3), 4.15 ERA, 57.1 IP, 1.63 WHIP, 67 H, 34 ER, .286 oAVG, 28 Ks
STM Game Two: Madeline Bloom (Sr.) - (6-3) 2.39 ERA, 52.2 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 49 H, 19 ER, .241 oAVG, 28 Ks

The Javelinas' most recent test came on the road against No.1 UT-Tyler, who they lost two in a doubleheader by four combined runs. The team will look to get its capable offense moving again against a talented Hilltoppers' pitching crew. Despite struggling last weekend, TAMUK's offense is still fifth in the LSC in both on-base percentage and total runs, it is also fourth in total bases so far this season.

St. Edwards's' pitching rotation has been unique as of late, with the team starting a different pitcher in each of its last four games. The depth of staff, however, has been impressive, with three of those four pitchers boasting a winning record and a WHIP at 1.50 or below. The Hilltoppers as a whole slot in at fifth in the LSC in both ERA and opposing batting average. 

The matchup between Kingsville's talented young pitching staff against St. Edward's' offensive crew may be just as interesting. The Javelinas are settling into a rotation in the circle that centers around two freshmen, Alaniz and Martinez. Both shined in their starts against Tyler on Sunday, where they each threw complete games and gave up just one earned run a piece. They will look to further shut down the Hilltopper bats, which have been inconsistent getting runs across the plate. Despite having the fifth-best batting average, and the fifth-most hits in the LSC, as well as five players hitting .330-plus this year, the team ranks just 10th in total runs. 

The matchup holds significant weight for the teams' conference standings as well. Both Kingsville and SEU are 11-9 in LSC play, they are tied with Lubbock Christian for the sixth-through-eighth spots in the conference. Not only that, but TAMUK's second opponent this weekend, St. Mary's, is also close by in the race, holding a 12-8 record.

TAMUK Notes:
As a team, the Javelinas are fifth in the Lone Star in on-base percentage with .398 and second in walks with 117
Graduate student outfielder Lindsey Evans enters the weekend hitting .462, the sixth-best mark in the LSC
Graduate student outfielder AJ Jasso and freshman third baseman Alexis Soliz are 24th and 25th in the conference in batting average - each are hitting .371
Jasso leads the team in RBIs with 26 (the 11th-most in the LSC) - the team has five different players with at least 17 
Freshman right hander Arianna Alaniz's 101 strikeouts are the sixth-most in the LSC and tied for the twelfth-most in the NCAA this year - she ranks fifth in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings with 10.9
Alaniz has already won multiple LSC Pitcher of the Week awards in her young career, having thrown a five-inning no-hitter against No.22 Lubbock Christian - she has already posted three games this season with double digit strikeouts, and has thrown three complete-game shutouts
Kingsville has four players, Laney Doelitsch, Dakota Martinez, Evans, and AJ Jasso with at least four homers on the season - Evans and Martinez each have five