The field is set for the 2017 Heartland Conference Softball Championship beginning Thursday (runs through Saturday). The five-team, double-elimination tournament will take place in San Antonio, Texas and will be hosted by top-seed St. Mary’s.
The Rattlers earned the tournament’s top seed by claiming the 2017 Heartland Softball regular-season championship with a 16-5 conference record. It is the 16th regular-season title in 17 years for StMU. The Rattlers finished the regular season 40-12 thanks to the top pitching staff in the conference. StMU has put up a 2.05 team ERA this season. St. Mary’s will play the winner of the No. 4/No. 5 game, which will feature fourth-seeded Texas A&M International and fifth-seeded Newman.
The Dustdevils made it nine-consecutive postseason appearances after clinching a spot with a win over Lubbock Christian on Friday. TAMIU closed the regular season 18-33 and 12-9 in Heartland play. Newman is making its first conference tournament appearance after a 17-33 overall record and a 10-9 conference mark.
The tournament’s second seed is Lubbock Christian for the second-straight season (second season eligible) after posting a 35-16 overall record and a 14-7 conference record. The Lady Chaps are out to defend their 2016 tournament title in which they upset top-seeded St. Mary’s. LCU was the top offensive team in the conference this season, scoring 312 runs while batting with a .330 team batting average.
For the second straight year, LCU will open against No. 3 Oklahoma Christian. The Lady Eagles have put together a fantastic season, with just 12 players on the roster. OC improved its record from a season ago going 31-21 with a 16-7 record in conference. Madison Hagood has led the Lady Eagles sporting a 1.58 ERA, the second best mark in the conference.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
Not only are the Lady Chaps heading into the conference tournament as the reigning champions; they are also bringing some firepower to go with them. Lubbock Christian currently sits No. 8 in the South Central Regional rankings having won 12 of their last 14 contests.
1. Angelo State University
2. West Texas A&M University
3. St. Mary’s University (TX)
4. Colorado Mesa University
5. Cameron University
6. Texas Woman’s University
7. Tarleton State University
8. Lubbock Christian University
9. Texas A&M – Commerce
10. Colorado School of Mines
LADY CHAP ATTACK
As a team, LCU is averaging 6.23 runs per game and also leads the conference with a .475 slugging average. Sydney Beuthien has been a statistical nightmare for opponents on the season as she leads the conference in RBIs (56), slugging percentage (.799) and total bases (115). Beuthien also ranks sixth nationally, first in the Heartland, with 18 home runs on the season.
Addison Ard has smacked seven home runs this season for a .611 slugging percentage and 32 RBIs. Ard has garnered 24 runs on 50 hits for a .382 season batting average.
Katera Eltsosie has led the Lady Chaparrals in the circle with an 18-5 pitching record. Eltsosie has tallied 101 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA. The senior has limited her opponents to a .233 batting average. At the plate, Eltsosie has hit seven home runs.
Check www.heartlandsports.org/Softball17 for live coverage and updates throughout the tournament.
(Courtesy LCU Sports Information Department)
