Jags return to conference play with trip to Southwest

The (RV) UHV softball team has had some time to look at its season over the last week.

The Jaguars (28-8, 14-4) were scheduled to face Huston-Tillotson on April 13 and 16, but the Rams forfeited the remainder of their season, giving UHV the week off.

As they resume Red River Athletic Conference play this Saturday with a doubleheader at University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico, head coach Lindsey Ortiz feels her team is ready to get back into the swing of things with two series left on the schedule.

"We want to get better every series with the ultimate goal being playing our best ball once we get to the conference tournament," Ortiz said. "So, I think going into Southwest, we're just going to get back into rhythm after the break and try to score runs early and often, and lean on our pitching to keep us in any game."

Excluding the forfeit wins, UHV has won its last six games with sweeps of Texas A&M-San Antonio, Jarvis Christian and Texas College.

Heading into the break, Kenzie Chambers was red-hot at the plate and will look to continue that form.

The junior from Grand Prairie is riding a seven-game hitting streak in which she's hitting .750. Her .538 average at the plate ranks third nationally. She was named the RRAC Player of the Week on April 8 after hitting .729 in the Jaguars' six wins against TAMUSA, Jarvis and Texas College.

She set a new single-season record for stolen bases, as well.

Her form has helped UHV hit .344 as a team, which ranks 12th nationally. In addition to Chamber's red-hot bat, Kaylle Lopez (48) and Claire Blinka (44) rank first and second, respectively in the conference for RBIs this season.

"I think, specifically, our upperclassmen have done a great job offensively acting as tone setters," Ortiz said. "Kenzo specifically has been a big catalyst for us. Anytime that top of the order of (Madysin Leighton), Kenzo, Kaylle and Blinka comes up, you're excited. There's potential to do damage that inning. The upperclassmen are carrying that mindset into their at-bats. They're making adjustments, they're communicating with their teammates about what they're seeing."

The Jaguars also boast the second-best staff ERA in the RRAC at 2.19.

Cameron Cowan ranks third in the conference with a 1.41 ERA while teammate Anyssia Mendoza holds a 2.67 ERA in third.

Eryn Sanchez also earned her first two wins of the season in wins over Jarvis and Texas College, leaving Ortiz feeling as though her pitching staff is in a good spot heading down the stretch.

"The great thing about using a staff is it makes you hard to prepare for and it makes you more versatile as you go into a tournament setting," Ortiz said. "Teams that are relying on one arm are a lot more limited than someone like us who realistically has been using five at this point and can use them situationally. I think our staff is great and I put a lot of weight on their shoulders, but they've done a great job of carrying that so far."

The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. Central Time.