Softball Opens Conference Play This Weekend in Amarillo

Softball 2/15/2019 12:45:00 PM

Softball Opens Conference Play This Weekend in Amarillo

Amarillo, Texas -- The Western New Mexico Softball team will open up conference play this weekend, as they travel to West Texas A&M to face off with the Lady Buffs in a three game series. Play begins 6 p.m. (CST) Friday at Schaeffer Park.

The Lady Buffs enter the contest 5-4 overall after, picking up a pair of wins at Lubbock Christian last weekend. Leading the way was freshman Ameyla Huggins, who finished the weekend batting .667. Over the course of nine games, she has recorded nine hits in 16 at bats including two doubles and two home runs. Another freshman Kyla Lair competes for the Lady Buffs in the circle, with a clean 3-0 record so far and a 5.56 era. Lair's numbers include 16 runs on 28 hits, 13 strikeouts and 13 walks totaling 22,2 innings for six appearances and five starts. Shayne Starkey also steps on the mound for WT grabbing a 2-1 record in seven appearances and four starts. With a 7.24 ERA, leads the team in strikeouts with 19, while allowing 22 runs on 41 hits.

The Lady Mustangs grabbed their first win of the season in St. George last weekend as they held on to take a 6-4 win over Montana State - Billings, finishing the tournament 1-4.

Ariana Maldonado (Albuquerque, NM/Cibola) picked up right where she left off last season, as she leads the team with 13 hits, 9 RBIs and ties Tycee Coplan (Taylor, AZ/Snowflake) with 11 runs so far this season at a .676 slugging percentage. She hit her first homerun of the season against Southern Nazarene, and followed up with a double against Chadron State. Her second and third homers came against Western Washington and Northwest Nazarene while in St. George.

Two new faces were seen on the mound for WNMU, as Jayln McClain (El Centro, CA) has started seven of the 10 games for the Lady Mustangs. With a 1-6 record so far McClain posts a 11.05 ERA, allowing 56 runs (45 earned), while striking out nine and walking 33. Freshman Julia Vega (Tucson, AZ/University High School) also steps into the circle, starting two games with six appearances. Vega accumulates a 12.91 ERA with five strikeouts, 19 walks and 31 runs on 28 hits.

Live stats will be provided by the home team.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

#2 Tycee Coplan: UT; 5' 5"; Junior; L/R

#18 Julia Vega: P; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#21 Jalyn McClain: P; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

#2 Tycee Coplan
: 5' 5"; Junior; L/R
: UT

#18 Julia Vega
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#21 Jalyn McClain
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: P