Softball
Debbie Hedrick |
SOFTBALL WELCOMES SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA FOR WEEKEND SERIES
April 24, 2008
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington returns to Allan Saxe Field this weekend for a big three-game Southland Conference softball series with Southeastern Louisiana, starting with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. University President James Spaniolo will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Mavericks (21-20, 14-10 SLC) are coming off a 3-4 road trip and have not played at home since sweeping a three-game series against McNeese State on April 5-6. UTA has a 9-4 record at home this season, including a 6-3 mark in conference play.
The Mavericks have a 21-13 lead in the all-time series against the Lady Lions (27-20, 14-12), including a 12-3 record in Arlington.
UTA enters the weekend tied for fourth in the SLC standings with six conference games (all at home) remaining before the May 8-10 conference tournament in San Marcos. The Mavericks are just two wins behind second-place Stephen F. Austin.
In addition to making up ground in the conference, 12th-year head coach Debbie Hedrick has a chance to make history. The two-time SLC Coach of the Year enters the series with 299 career victories since taking over the program in 1997.
Hedrick has the good fortune of handing the ball to two of the league's toughest pitchers. Sophomore Cara Hulme is 10-3 with a 1.32 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings in conference play this season, while senior Laura Jones is 4-6 with a pair of shutouts and a 1.77 ERA.
Offensively, the Mavericks have done most of their damage during the middle innings in SLC competition. They have outscored their opponents by a comfortable 86-29 margin in the third through sixth innings.
Senior shortstop Amanda Swofford is batting .343 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in league play. Freshman first baseman Rebecca Collom is hitting .297 with eight homers and 21 RBI. Sophomore outfielder Brittany Washington is batting .321 with six dingers and 14 RBI in SLC games.
Southeastern Louisiana has dropped six of its last seven games. Freshman shortstop Katie Duhe (.321) leads four Lady Lions batting better than .300 in conference play, while junior catcher Allyson McCubbins tops the squad with 10 extra-base hits and 21 RBI. Senior Rachel Ray has been SLU's most effective pitcher, compiling an 11-7 record and a 2.40 ERA against Southland opposition.
The finale of the three-game series is Sunday, with the first pitch at noon.