Softball 1/31/2017 1:17:00 PM Brian Kortz

Softball Tabbed 10th in LSC Preseason Poll, Set to Open Season at Desert Stinger

RICHARDSON, Texas – Heading into their first season in the Lone Star Conference, the Western New Mexico University softball team is picked to finish 10^th as announced Tuesday by the conference office. Head coaches, sports information directors and media members of the conference institutions vote to make up the poll.

The Lady Mustangs accumulated 79 points, while West Texas A&M, who opened the season fourth in the national poll, is the top choice to win with 26 first-place votes and 324 total votes. They are followed by Texas A&M-Commerce with three first-place votes and 269 points and Texas Woman's to round out the top-three with one first-place vote and 268 points. The Lady Buffs also took home the individual honors as Ashley Hardin taking home the LSC Preseason Player of the Year, while Kilee Halbert as the LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

WNMU went 21-34 last season and 17-23 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Lady Mustangs went 2-3 in the Desert Stinger last year. They faced one LSC team in Midwestern State in the second game of the season in Lubbock and fell in a shootout, 11-8.

The Lady Mustangs return 12 players from last year, with Domi Shone (Gold Canyon, AZ/Mesquite), Linzy and Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) being the three seniors. Junior Mariangela Garcia (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) put together another strong year in 2016 as she led the team in batting average (.391), hits (70), doubles (15), home runs (6) and RBI (38) in starting all 55 games at shortstop. Linzy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tallied a .318 average, along with 54 hits, second on the team, eight doubles, three home runs and 24 RBI, also good for second on the team, in starting all 55 games at second base. Sophomore Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) made a strong impact in her freshman year as she compiled a .308 batting average, 36 hits, 12 doubles, second on the team, a triple, three home runs and 15 RBI in playing in 48 games, starting 38. Lacy Granger (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad) tallied a .269 average, 45 hits, third on the team, seven doubles, a home run and 20 RBI in starting 54 games at third base. Sophomore Yasmeen Gastelum (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle) posted 26 hits, three doubles, a home run and 15 RBI in her first season playing primarily catcher, logging 48 games, 35 starts. Sophomore Carolyn Castillo (Silver City, NM/Silver City) was strong off the bench in her first year as she hit .400 with six hits, a double, two home runs and five RBI in 14 games. Sophomore Clarissa Moreno (Tucson, AZ/Desert View) split time with Gastelum behind the plate hitting .310 with 26 hits, four doubles, a home run and 12 RBI in 35 games. Redshirt sophomore Brooklyn Misenhimer (Tucson, AZ/Sahuaro) added 23 hits, six doubles, a home run and 10 RBI in 47 games last year. Sophomore Bailey McFarland (El Paso, TX/JM Hanks ) had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI in six games. Sophomore Deidre Vega (Bayard, NM/Cobre) played in four games and had a run scored, along with a putout behind the plate.

In the circle, both Shone and sophomore Tiana Salazar (Peoria, AZ/Peoria) saw a lot of time, but the Lady Mustangs will be without Salazar this season as she will miss the 2017 campaign with an injury and will redshirt. Shone led the team in nearly every category including ERA (3.88), wins (12), appearances (38), games started (26), complete games (16), shutouts (3), saves (1), innings pitched (176.2) and strikeouts (90). Salazar logged 84.2 innings, with a 5.04 ERA, eight wins in 27 appearances, starting 13, two complete games and 43 strikeouts. She was named the RMAC Pitcher of the Week after her strong start to the 2016 season, including a win over nationally-ranked CSU-Monterey Bay.

WNMU travels to Las Vegas to once again open the season at the Desert Stinger. They will face #2 Humboldt State to start the season on Friday beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Jacks went 54-8-1 last year which included a win over Dixie State to start the season. They advanced all the way to the National Title game in 2016 before falling to North Alabama. WNMU and Humboldt State haven't faced each other in at least the past 10 years.

A familiar opponent to start the year will wrap-up the first day on Friday at 2 p.m. when they face Azusa Pacific. The Cougars are receiving votes in the national poll after going 40-12 last season and advancing to the West Regional. Azusa Pacific and WNMU played last year in the Desert Stinger with the Cougars taking the 9-0 victory.

To start the day on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. will be a meeting with Chico State. The Wildcats went 40-16 last season and are currently receiving votes in the national poll. Just like Azusa Pacific and Humboldt State, they advanced to the West Regional. Just like Humboldt State, WNMU and Chico State haven't faced each other in at least the past 10 years.

To close Saturday, the Lady Mustangs will go against Hawaii-Hilo at 7 p.m. The Vulcans also had a strong 2016 going 32-17, but missed out on making regionals. The two teams met in the Dixie State Tournament last year with the Vulcans claiming the 3-0 victory. This won't be the first and only meeting of 2017, as the two are set to face each other on Feb. 7 with a doubleheader following the Desert Stinger.

To wrap-up the Desert Stinger, WNMU will battle Sonoma State on Sunday at 2 p.m. The SeaWolves went 33-24-1 last year making it into the West Regional falling to both Humboldt State and Chico State. WNMU and Sonoma State also haven't played each other in at least the past 10 years.

All start times listed are Pacific Standard Time. Live stats will be available for all games and can be found on the WNMU athletic page.

Complete LSC Preseason Rankings listed below:

Rank      LSC Softball                            1st        TOTAL
1              West Texas A&M 26         324
2              Texas A&M-Commerce    3 269
3              Texas Woman's 1 268
4              Angelo State 263
5              Cameron    176
6              Tarleton State 167
7              Midwestern State 161
8              Texas A&M-Kingsville                        144
9              Eastern New Mexico 80
10           Western New Mexico 79
11           UT Permian Basin 49

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Players Mentioned

#17 Carolyn Castillo: 3B/1B; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#14 Mariangela Garcia: SS; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

#12 Yasmeen Gastelum: C; 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R

#6 Lacy Granger: IN; 5' 2"; Senior; R/R

#2 Linzy Granger: 2B; 5' 2"; Senior; R/R

#9 Ariana Maldonado: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R

#4 Bailey McFarland: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R

#16 Brooklyn Misenhimer: IN; 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R

#7 Clarissa Moreno: C; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

Tiana Salazar: P; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#17 Carolyn Castillo
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: 3B/1B

#14 Mariangela Garcia
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: SS

#12 Yasmeen Gastelum
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; R/R
: C

#6 Lacy Granger
: 5' 2"; Senior; R/R
: IN

#2 Linzy Granger
: 5' 2"; Senior; R/R
: 2B

#9 Ariana Maldonado
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#4 Bailey McFarland
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#16 Brooklyn Misenhimer
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore; R/R
: IN

#7 Clarissa Moreno
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: C

Tiana Salazar
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: P