STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton TexAnn softball team will return to action in a non-conference doubleheader at home against No. 5 Lubbock Christian on Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m.

The TexAnns enter the weekend 10-5-1 this season after sweeping Oklahoma Panhandle State in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Rebecca Wessels leads the team with a .429 batting average, 16 runs scored, 19 hits and seven-of-nine stolen bases.  Kelsey Latta (.333) and Abigail Tammen (.304) are also hitting above the .300-mark.  Tarleton is hitting .289 as a team against an opponents' earned run average of 3.54.

Samantha Swanda leads the squad with a 1.80 ERA in 58.1 innings of work. The junior is 6-2 on the season and has recorded 56 strikeouts to just 10 walks.  Katie Smith (4-2) is second in pitching with a 2.10 ERA in 33.1 innings of work while recording 12 walks and 22 strikeouts.  The TexAnns have a combined ERA of 2.06 while opponents are hitting .222.

LCU is ranked No. 5 in the nation in the  NAIA preseason poll and is 12-3 overall this season.

Kayla Van Dieren is hitting .510 this year with a team-high 25 hits, six doubles and three triples while adding 18 runs scored and 17 RBI.  Kim Frazier (.488) leads the team with 22 RBI while Andrea Argee (.444) is tops on the squad with 20 runs scored.  The team is hitting .359 while opponents have a combined ERA of 8.15.

LCU is led by Carollin Hall (4-1) has a 1.15 ERA with 30.1 innings of action with 10 walks and 34 strikeouts.  Alyssa Freight has a 2.33 ERA and is 3-2 with 27.0 innings of action.  She has four walks and 18 strikeouts.  The team has a combined ERA of 1.60 and opponents are hitting .224.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams.  LCU started its softball program just 2008 when it won the NAIA national championship.