LIVE STATS | VIDEO | GAME NOTES

LAREDO, Texas (April 5, 2018) – Texas A&M International University softball will play its next 12 games at home starting with a three-game series against the Hillcats of Rogers State this weekend. First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Dustdevil Field. 
 
Links for live stats and video can be found at GoDustdevils.com under the softball schedule page. 
 
A LOOK AT THE DUSTDEVILS
The Dustdevils return to Heartland Conference play after taking a short trip up to Stephenville midweek for doubleheader against nationally-ranked Tarleton State. They enter the weekend 14-27 and 11-10 in Heartland Conference play which is good for fifth. 
 
Hitting
Maya Paul has been solid at the plate for the Dustdevils as the freshman is hitting a team-high .324 with nine doubles, one home run and 12 runs batted in. She has also scored 14 runs while stealing a team-high 15 bases. Cassie Cannon has occupied the leadoff spot in every game this season hitting .288 with a team-high 40 hits. She also has nine doubles, one triple and one home run to drive in seven runs. Her 11 steals are the second-most on the team as she is the only player in program history to record 10 or more steals in consecutive seasons. Maddison Schofield's .282 batting average is the third-highest on the team. The junior has a team-high 20 RBIs and is one of four players with two or more home runs. 
 
Pitching
Delainy Thompson is the ace of the staff but Melanie Lint and Sara Caterson have both been pitching well of late. Thompson is 6-11 on the season with an ERA of 2.85 in 103 innings in the circle allowing 58 runs (42 earned) on 110 hits and 49 walks with a team-high 55 strikeouts. The senior enters the weekend two appearances short of 100 for her career. Lint has made an immediate impact as a freshman appearing in 26 games including 11 starts. She is 6-8 with an ERA of 2.90 in 101 1-3 innings pitched. She has allowed less than one earned run in four of her last six appearances. Caterson may not get the credit she deserves as her 2-6 record in the circle doesn't tell the whole story. The junior struggled earlier in the season but has not allowed more than three runs in her last six appearances including five innings of shutout ball against Oklahoma Christian on March 16. 
 
A LOOK AT THE HILLCATS
The Hillcats sit 27-11 overall and 11-6 in Heartland Conference play after splitting a doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico on Thursday in Claremore, Okla. RSU is 5-7 in their last 12 games after winning 18 straight earlier in the season. 
 
Hitting
The Hillcats are led by Allie McFetridge who is hitting .379 with one double and seven home runs with 38 RBIs. The freshman also leads the team with a .434 on-base percentage having only struck out three times in 116 at-bats. She had an impressive performance in Wednesday's doubleheader against went 5 for 8 in Wednesday's doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico going 5 for 8 including a three-run home run in game one. Danelle Day has started in all 38 games hitting .325 with seven doubles and 14 home runs to driving in a team-high 45 runs. The sophomore showed off her power in the Hillcats 18-9 setback to ENMU hitting a pair of home runs driving in five runs. Merissa Smith is another one of the impressive freshman on the Hillcat roster as she is hitting .294 with nine doubles, two triples and nine home runs for 26 RBIs. 
 
Pitching
Alex Brake and Andrea Morales have started 31 of the Hillcats 38 game so far this season. Morales has gotten the starting nod in 16 games going 8-6 with an ERA of 2.44 in 83 1-3 innings allowing 39 runs (29 earned) on 78 hits and 25 walks with 58 strikeouts. Brake has a team-high 10 wins with an ERA of 2.59 in 15 starts allowing 38 runs (33 earned) with 66 hits while striking a team-high 75 batters. Tailee Reding has excelled as a reliever going 8-3 in 23 appearances converting five saves. She has a team-best 1.34 ERA striking out 36 of the 277 batters she has faced. 
 
THE SERIES
The Dustdevils lead the all-time series 11-3 and 5-1 in games played in Laredo. TAMIU swept the Hillcats in their last visit to The Gateway City back on Feb. 26-27, 2016. Before their two defeats earlier this season, the Dustdevils had won nine straight. 
 
THE LAST MEETING
The Dustdevils dropped both games of the doubleheader to Rogers State back on March 3 in Claremore, Okla. They fell 5-2 in the first game followed by an 4-3 extra inning defeat in the finale. Senior catcher Alyssa Soneff went 2 for 5 from the plate with one double while driving in two runs. It was also a memorable weekend for Samantha Edmiston as the senior hit her first career home run in the first game of the doubleheader. 
 
AROUND THE HEARTLAND
St. Mary's ranks first in the conference but the Rattlers saw they lead atop the standings take a hit as they were swept by Lubbock Christian on Tuesday afternoon in Lubbock. Rogers State remains second narrowly ahead of LCU with Oklahoma Christian and TAMIU rounding out the top five. St. Edward's and Newman both have work to do if they are going to make a run for the conference tournament. 
 
RECORD WATCH
98 – With two more starts in the circle, Delainy Thompson would join Kyndall Reaves (2011-14) and Victoria Beltran (2008-11) as the only pitchers to record 100 or more career appearances. 
 
22 –Cassie Cannon's 22 career steals are the sixth-most in program history, four short of tying Rochelle Nash (2011-13) for fifth. 
 
155 –Sara Caterson pitched three innings in Tuesday's doubleheader giving her 155 for her career which is the eighth-most in program history. She also ranks in the top-10 in career shutouts, games started and strikeouts. 
 
200 –With her start in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against #20 Tarleton State, Alyssa Acuna became the sixth player in program history to start in 200 games. She is 11 starts short of moving up to fifth all-time. 
 
PROMOTIONS
The first 150 fans to Friday's doubleheader will receive a Dustdevil fidget spinner. On Saturday, the first 100 fans will receive a free mini-bat. 
 
UP NEXT
The Dustdevilswelcome #18 Tarleton State to Laredo for a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday, April 10. First pitch is schedule for 12 p.m.