By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor
The softball team’s hopes of making the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament hinge strongly on this weekend, when the Wildcats play host to Texas Woman’s in a four-game series at Wells Field.
Texas Woman’s (29-16, 7-5 LSC South) and ACU (23-22, 6-6 LSC South) rank No. 3 and 4 in their division, respectively, far ahead of 3-9 fifth place teams Texas A&M-Kingsville and Eastern New Mexico. In other words, the Cats need at least three wins this weekend to pass TWU in conference and get a jump on the Pioneers as the postseason draws near.
“Playing Texas Woman’s is the pivotal series of the season for us,” head coach Carol Tabor said. “We’re ready; we’re confident. The ladies had an awesome last weekend [when they split with ENM] and we’re building on that.
“This is what competition is all about,” she said. “It’s gonna be all on the line for our chances to get in the top three, and we plan on doing it.”
Sophomore right fielder and team captain Katie Bryan echoed these thoughts.
“These are going to be some of the most important games we’ll play in conference,” she said. “We’d like to win all four times, but if we win at least three we’ll be in good standing.”
The Wildcats home to continue with their high-octane offense that scored them 43 runs in four games against the Greyhounds last weekend. Bryan leads the team with a .378 batting average and seven home runs, and is second with 34 RBI. Senior shortstop Robin Woodall has a team-high 38 RBI to go along with her .340 average and six homers.
Defensively, pitchers Christina Yorkey, a senior, and Heather Cochran, a freshman, have been the staff’s backbone all season long.
Yorkey is 11-11 on the year with a 4.38 ERA and 51 strikeouts, while Cochran sports an 8-9 record, a 5.30 ERA and 37 strikeouts.
