Midwestern State (13-16, 7-14 LSC) vs. #10 Angelo State (30-6, 14-4 LSC)
Lone Star Conference Series
Friday and Saturday, April 6-7, 2018 | 2 p.m. / 4 p.m. / 2 p.m.
Mustangs Park | Wichita Falls, Texas
MSU trails the all-time series 18-31 | MSU is 10-10 at home against ASU | Rambelles have won six of last seven
Game 1 Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Game 2 Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Game 3 Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Live Video: Mustangs Digital Network
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
 
LEADING OFF: The MSU Texas softball team hosts No. 10-ranked Angelo State (30-6, 14-4 LSC) in its second to last homestand of the 2018 season, beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Friday at Mustangs Park. Midwestern State (13-16, 7-14 LSC) is coming off a four-game split on the road at Western New Mexico last weekend.
 
RANKED FOES KEEP COMING: This weekend's series features the third-straight ranked opponent to journey to Mustangs Park. MSU previously welcomed Texas A&M-Kingsville, 11th-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce and 15th-ranked West Texas A&M, going a combined 1-8 in those series with the lone win coming against TAMUC in the series-opener. Even with a pair of sweeps against ASU and Tarleton State in two weeks, MSU can only match the program's low of seven wins set in 2015.
 
STANDINGS SHAKEDOWN: MSU needs help to keep its Lone Star Conference Tournament hopes alive. The ninth-place Mustangs trail Cameron by 4.5 games for the final spot in the LSC Championships and would have to jump Texas A&M-Kingsville and Eastern New Mexico as well with nine games to play. Texas A&M-Commerce leads the league with a 16-2 conference record, trailed by West Texas A&M (12-3) and Angelo State (14-4). The Lions host the Lady Buffs in Commerce this weekend.
 
OFFENSE IGNITES IN NEW MEXICO: Freshman outfielder Marley Eller and sophomore outfielder Kelsey Eropkin had big offensive weekends against Western New Mexico. Eller hit .500, going 8-for-16 with three doubles, three RBI and four runs scored in the four-game set with the Mustangs. Eropkin continued to swing a hot bat, hitting .529 (9-of-17) with seven runs scored, four RBI and three doubles.
 
CARAWAY DOES IT ALL: Sophomore outfielder/pitcher Tucker Caraway went yard and earned the win in the circle in game three against WNMU, striking out a season-high seven over 5.0 innings of work. In her last six games, the Whitewright product is hitting .455 with two home runs and two doubles to go along with eight runs and three RBI.
 
BRINTZENHOFF BRINGING THE LUMBER: Senior infielder Taylor Brintzenhoff carries a five-game hitting streak into this weekend's series with ASU after knocking the cover off the ball in the Land of Enchantment. The Fleetwood, Pa., product is hitting .471 in her last five games with three bombs, two doubles, seven RBI and five runs scored. She became the 38th-player in program history to go deep twice in a game, launching a pair of round-trippers against WNMU.
 
LINDGREN MAKING FANS GRIN: Sophomore outfielder Lauren Lindgren has lit up fans faces as well as the scoreboard in her last seven games. The Denton Guyer product went 4-for-4 in the series opener with West Texas A&M and has done nothing but hit since. In her last seven games, Lindgren is hitting .542 with a whopping nine RBI and seven runs scored, paired with two doubles and a long ball.
 
THOMAS THE STEAM ENGINE: Senior catcher Amanda Thomas has been as consistent as they get since the start of conference play. In her last 12 games, the Mustangs' backstop is hitting .425 with 12 RBI and eight runs scored.
 
NATIONAL RUNNER UP AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED: Last year's national runner-up Angelo State brings a 30-6 overall record and a 14-4 mark in LSC play. The Rambelles have posted 13 shutouts on the season with an offense that averages nearly seven runs per game. Sophomore infielder Karina Rocha is the biggest power threat on the team, hitting .319 with 13 homers and 38 RBI. In the circle, Morgan Hill (14-4, 1.47 ERA) and preseason pitcher of the year Brandy Marlett (15-2, 2.07 ERA) lead the team. The duo boasts a strikeout to walk ratio of 197-to-47.