STEPHENVILLE – With tournament play in the rearview, Tarleton turns its attention to the Lone Star Conference schedule which begins this weekend in Canyon against the No. 3 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs.
 
“It's always an adrenaline rush when you realize you are beginning conference play,” said Tarleton head coach Julie Mata. “This is such a tough conference. Every week is a challenge and it puts you to the test.
 
“I know our players are excited,” she continued. “I'm proud of their work ethic and I'm looking forward to seeing them on the field this weekend against a very talented and well-coached West Texas A&M team.”
 
Tarleton will play a single game Friday at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. All games will be played at Schaeffer Park in Canyon.
 
AT A GLANCE
Records: Tarleton TexAnns (11-8, 0-0 LSC); No. 3 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs (16-1, 0-0 LSC)
Live Stats: Complete live stats will be available at GoBuffsGo.com.
Live Video: There will be a live video stream of the game available at GoBuffsGo.com.
 
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, Game 1: Randi Fentress, TSU (7-4, 2.09 ERA) vs. Hannah Newcomb, WTAMU (4-0, 1.69 ERA)
Saturday, Game 2: Brenna Hennan, TSU (4-3, 2.85 ERA) vs. Amber Spencer, WTAMU (6-1, 2.16 ERA)
Saturday, Game 3: Randi Fentress, TSU (7-4, 2.09 ERA) vs. Hannah Newcomb, WTAMU (4-0, 1.69 ERA)
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR TARLETON
Last weekend, Tarleton hosted Oklahoma Christian for a schedule-altering doubleheader Saturday after poor weather conditions cancelled the Missouri Southern Tournament in Joplin, MO. The TexAnns swept the twinbill from the Eagles on the strength of two superlative pitching performances from Randi Fentress and Brenna Hennan. Fentress flirted with perfection in the first game while Hennan tossed a complete game shutout in the second.
 
A LOOK AT THE LADY BUFFS
West Texas A&M enters the game on a six-game winning streak and is ranked No. 3 in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The Lady Buffs are the No. 5 hitting team in the Lone Star Conference at .310, but do not have a single player in the top 15 in hitting. They have scored 10 or more runs in six games this season.
 
IN THE LAST MEETING
When Tarleton and West Texas A&M met last season, the Lady Buffs made the visit to Stephenville ranked No. 2 in the nation and suffered a sweep at the hands of the TexAnns.
 
CLIFFORD'S BIG BLAST
Last weekend against Oklahoma Christian, Amber Clifford hit the game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning. This was her first career grand slam.
 
RING 'EM UP
Randi Fentress and Brenna Hennan have been the anchors of a three-player TexAnn pitching staff. The Tarleton twosome, along with freshman southpaw Katelyn Conlee, have Tarleton No. 4 in the Lone Star Conference in pitching with a 2.43 earned run average. Fentress (50) and Hennan (47) are also No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, in strikeouts in the LSC.
 
UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
The TexAnns will make their home Lone Star Conference debut next weekend as they host Texas A&M-Kingsville for a three-game set, starting with a 5 p.m. doubleheader Friday night, They will wrap up the series at noon Saturday.