LUBBOCK, Texas – A strong ending to the 2015 season will look to carry over for the Western New Mexico University softball team when they open the 2016 campaign this week at the Lubbock Christian Tournament.

The Lady Mustangs open the trip on Friday against host Lubbock Christian at 1 p.m. They will then face Midwestern State later in the day at 3:15 p.m. On Saturday, WNMU will open once again with the host Lubbock Christian at 12 p.m. and then finish the day at 4:30 p.m. versus Oklahoma Panhandle State. On Sunday, the Lady Mustangs will play just one game against Oklahoma Panhandle State beginning at 1 p.m. All games times are Central Standard Time.

WNMU went 23-30 last year and 18-20 in the RMAC finishing seventh. It was quite the conference tournament for the Lady Mustangs as they defeated Colorado Mesa in the opening round and after an extra inning loss to Regis, came back to down CSU-Pueblo in extra innings. WNMU then took top seed and host MSU Denver down to the wire before falling by a run.

Several returners logged lots of times last year and will be primed for a strong season. Sophomore Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) returns with the top batting average of .410, while she also had 42 runs scored, 66 hits, 15 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 36 RBI in playing 50 games. Preseason All-RMAC selection junior Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) recorded a .329 batting average along with a team-best 46 runs scored, 12 doubles, a team-best five triples, three home runs, 21 RBI and five stolen bases in starting all 53 games. Senior Thailyza Ramirez (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) hit .308 with 32 runs scored, 52 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 42 RBI in 52 games started. Senior Alicia Enriquez (Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite) collected a .269 batting average with 44 runs scored, 50 hits, eight doubles, a home run, 25 RBI and a team-best six stolen bases in starting all 53 games. Senior Samantha Munoz (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) also posted a .269 batting average with 20 runs scored, 36 hits, six doubles, a triple, four home runs and 17 RBI, along with a stolen base in 51 games. Senior Krystal Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) battled injury to play in 25 games, hitting .261 with six runs scored, 18 hits, seven RBI and a stolen base. Junior Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) logged a .234 batting average with 11 runs scored, 15 hits, a double, two triples, a home run, seven RBI and a stolen base in 36 games. Sophomore Madison Jones (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood) played in 26 games hitting .167 with six runs scored. Junior Breanna Aker (El Mirage, AZ/Apollo) split time in the field and in the circle. At the plate she hit .125 with two runs scored, an RBI in 13 games played. In the circle she pitched in 12 games, starting eight. She posted a 9.23 ERA, recorded a win in 22 innings. Senior MaryJo Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tossed 152.1 innings in the circle in 42 appearances, 18 starts. She had a 5.24 ERA, seven wins, three complete games and three saves. Redshirt junior Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite) returns from injury. In 2014 she pitched in 37 games, starting 26. She posted a 5.08 ERA, 11 wins, 16 complete games, three shutouts and a save in 176.1 innings worked.

New players joining the team this year include redshirt freshman Brooklyn Misenhimer (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) and seven freshmen in Clarissa Moreno (Tucson, AZ/Desert View), Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola), Bailey McFarland (El Paso, TX/JM Hanks ), Carolyn Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City), Tiana Salazar (Peoria, AZ/Peoria), Deidre Vega (Bayard, NM/Cobre) and Yasmeen Gastelum (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle).

The Lady Mustangs will open against Lubbock Christian who went 36-12 last year. Liz Torres returns as she led the team in batting average posting a .405. Sydney Beuthien led the team in both home runs (16) and RBI (61) and returns for 2016. Kelsey Hoppel led the team in the circle in ERA (2.33) in 90 innings and is the top returning pitcher from last year.

Midwestern State went 24-24 last year. Haley Howerton returns to lead the team this season after posting the top average of .371 in 2015. Katelyn Vinson led the offense in home runs (18) and RBI (49) and returns for 2016. In the circle, Tayler Jerrick and Erin Knox return as the two led the team in ERA. Jerrick posted a 3.61 ERA and Knox at 5.56. They each logged 97 innings and Jerrick tallied seven wins to eight for Knox.

Oklahoma Panhandle State went 16-34 last year and split with the Lady Mustangs in a doubleheader played also in Lubbock last year. Of the 11 players that saw regular time last year, 10 are back this year for OPSU. Ashley Jarzombek led the team with a .360 batting average and added four home runs and 22 RBI. Samantha Arledge was tops in the circle with a 4.44 ERA and a 13-13 record. She logged 176.2 innings in 37 appearances, starting 18.

WNMU's games against Lubbock Christian on Friday, Saturday and the game against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Saturday will have live video, audio and stats. The other two games versus Midwestern State on Friday and Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sunday will have just live stats only.