Softball to Face No. 5 Angelo State This Saturday and Sunday

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – Just like with last week's schedule, the Western New Mexico University softball team will have to adjust from playing Friday and Saturday, to playing on Saturday and Sunday. The Lady Mustangs will now face No. 5 Angelo State at noon on Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. Both will be doubleheaders and both times are Mountain Standard.

The first three games of the series will count as Lone Star Conference contests, while the final game on Sunday will be a non-conference game. WNMU (1-12, 0-3 LSC) came close to defeating Eastern New Mexico in two out of the three games last week, falling by a run and two runs in those games.

Redshirt freshman Alicia Habitzreuther (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena) has continued her impressive start to her Lady Mustang career as she leads the team in batting average (.459), home runs (3) and RBI (14), while tying for the team lead in runs scored with eight. Junior Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) leads the team in hits with 21 and doubles with nine, while posting a .412 batting average, a home run and seven RBI. Junior Yasmeen Gastelum (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle) and freshman Grisdey Paredes-Alvarez have also added a home run each. This year's team has almost already matched last year's home run total of seven, as they currently have six.

In the circle, sophomore Thalia O'Neill (Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield) has seen a bulk of the work tossing 45.1 innings, appearing in 12 games and starting eight, with two complete games. Sophomore Lyana Waddell (Winkelman, AZ/San Manuel) has accumulated 30.2 innings in 11 total appearances that has included four starts. She picked up the win in the incredible comeback against CSU-Pueblo.

Angelo State is off to yet another strong start as they are 13-1 with their only loss coming against Colorado Mesa. The Belles are currently on a 12-game winning streak and opened the conference slate with a three-game sweep at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Three players have at least a .400 batting average led by Karina Rocha's .452 average. She also has seven home runs and 21 RBI. Three other players have at least two home runs in Taegan Kirk, Courtney Barnhill and Mykayla Stroud, while Kirk adds 20 RBI and Barnhill with 12.

In the circle, Morgan Hill has a 0.63 ERA with an 8-1 record in 44.1 innings pitched. Brandy Marlett is 4-0 with a 1.63 ERA in 30 innings.

Live video and stats will be available for all four games.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Lyana Waddell: P; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

Alicia Habitzreuther: IN; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#13 Thalia O'Neill: P; 5' 1"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Lyana Waddell
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: P

Alicia Habitzreuther
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: IN

#13 Thalia O'Neill
: 5' 1"; Freshman; R/R
: P