Kingsville - Fresh off of a pair close road losses to No.8 Angelo St., the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team is preparing to face off with another ranked opponent this weekend, as it returns home to play against the Cameron Aggies (Friday, 4:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.), and the No.13 Oklahoma Christian Eagles (12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.).

The Javelinas have lost five of their last six ball games and bring a 10-10 overall record (5-5 Lone Star Conference) into the weekend. They now return home to play the conference's two Oklahoma-based opponents, including the Eagles, who are the second top-15-ranked opponent that TAMUK has battled in its last three matchups.

"Our goal this week is to clean up some of our communication and continue to improve in all facets of our game," Head Coach Orlando Salinas said. 

Cameron has won six of its last 10 contests against Kingville, including last season, when it took three of four. Oklahoma Christian has dominated its recent head-to-head games with TAMUK, winning 10 of its last 11, including taking all four of last season's matchups, the later two of which were decided by one run each.

Scouting the Competition: The Cameron Aggies (8-11, 2-8 LSC)

The Aggies are looking to right the ship, bringing a 2-8 LSC record into the weekend, which followed a 6-3 start in non-conference play. Friday's contests are the first two of six straight road games for Cameron, four of which come against LSC opponents.

Senior RHP Stormee Reed has been a stellar strikeout pitcher for the Aggies so far this year, bringing 63 Ks into the weekend, tied for the most in the LSC. Cameron's pitching staff as a whole, however, has just the 14th-best ERA in the conference, and allows opponents to hit .297 against them, the 11th-best mark in the LSC. Offensively, sophomore DH Haley Gardella has hit an incredible .420 this season, leading the team in both total bases (61), and RBI (29).

"Cameron University is a very well-coached team and they can swing the bat," Head Coach Orlando Salinas said. "Every weekend in the Lone Star Conference is definitely a battle. We look forward to matching up with Cameron and continuing to grow and play great softball this weekend."

Scouting the Competition: The No.13 Oklahoma Christian Eagles (17-3, 9-1 LSC)

The Eagles are riding a seven-game winning streak entering the weekend, and have just one LSC loss on the season. The No.13-ranked team in the nation has earned that number with stellar play on both sides of the ball. OC's team batting average of .351 is the second-best in the LSC, and its .511 slugging is the fourth-best. Defensively, both the Eagles' 2.69 ERA and their .244 opponent batting average are the second-lowest in the LSC.

The team's pitching duo of senior Jill Dickson and freshman RHP Ella Resendiz has been one of the conference's best. They rank third and fourth respectively in the LSC in lowest opponent batting average, and their strikeouts are, respectively, the fourth and fifth most.

"Oklahoma Christian is a very well-coached and solid opponent," Salinas said. "We're going to have to put all three phases together to be successful against them. Oklahoma Christian has been very successful in past years and you have to make sure you bring your A game when you play them. We look forward to a great series."

Javelina Quick Hitters:

• Early in the year, the Javelinas went on a tear, winning nine straight games, including the first four LSC games of their season - the streak is their longest since 2022
• Senior RHP Andrea Martinez has stepped into a starting role for Kingsville and has been excellent, striking out 45 batters, tied for the sixth-most in the LSC
• Early in the season, sophomore outfielder Lainee Ballin had a stellar weekend at the Southern Colorado Crossover, hitting .588 with three home runs, keying Kingsville to the first five of nine straight wins and earning the Lone Star Conference's Hitter of the Week award
• Freshman OF Victoria Vargas has had a great start to her collegiate career, hitting .392 (18th in the LSC), scoring 16 runs (20th in the LSC), and walking 11 times (16th in the LSC)
• Kingsville as a squad ranks second in the conference in walks, having drawn 84 on the season, and has stolen the fourth-most bases
• Defensively, the pitching staff has struck out the third-most batters in the LSC and has given up just six home runs this year, tied for the fewest in the conference