(RV) Softball ready to face No. 24 Baker in Saturday doubleheader

The UHV softball team looks to extend its winning streak Saturday when it heads to San Antonio to face No. 24-ranked Baker (KS).

The Jaguars (4-2) and Wildcats (34-16 in 2024) square off in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at San Antonio's Southwest Legacy High School. Both teams advanced to the NAIA Opening Round last year.

It's the first ranked opponent of the season for UHV.

"We're looking forward to the test," said head coach Lindsey Ortiz. "Baker is a strong team coming off an NAIA Tournament appearance. They're going to challenge us and we're ready to compete. We need to continue to build on what we've done the first two weeks."

UHV is coming off a run-rule sweep of NCAA Division III Schreiner University on Wednesday in which the Jaguars put up 21 runs.

Kaylle Lopez and Claire Blinka continued their hot starts to the season at the plate on Wednesday.

Lopez was 5-for-5 with a couple of RBIs to extend her hitting streak to five games. This season, the Sinton native is hitting a team-leading .536.

Blinka was 3-for-4 with four RBIs to extend her team-leading hit streak to seven games dating back to last season's NAIA Opening Round. The Port Lavaca native is hitting .500 to open the season. She leads the team with seven RBIs.

Kenzie Chambers enters the weekend one stolen base away from breaking Madysin Leighton's record of 90, set last season. The Grand Prairie native has reached base at a .473 clip with five stolen bases this season.

As a team, UHV is hitting .363 with 10 players hitting over .300.

"Coming into the year, I thought we'd have good depth at the plate and that's what we've seen early on," Ortiz said. "Our girls are hitting with a lot of confidence right now and we need to continue to build on that."

Hope Quinones and Audrie Sayas earned their second wins of the season in the circle on Wednesday. It was the second straight winning decision for Sayas, who boasts a 1.57 ERA.

UHV used five pitchers during the doubleheader on Wednesday with three relief pitchers combining to toss four shutout innings.

"This is going to be a different year and they're going to have to be used as a staff," Ortiz said. "I think all five of them on Wednesday did what they were asked to do. I think they're all going to be very important and I'm excited to see them work together."

UHV and Baker have only met once prior in 2018 with Baker winning that meeting.