Softball ready for Southwest in regular season finale

The UHV softball team is looking to enter the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament on a high note when it welcomes University of the Southwest to town for a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday to close the regular season.

When the two teams met in New Mexico on March 10, the Jaguars (23-16, 17-9) swept the Mustangs (13-26, 8-18) 2-1 and 3-1.

"Momentum means a lot in the postseason," said head coach Lindsey Ortiz. "With a win-or-go-home environment, everybody wants to be at their best come the conference tournament. We want to go out and play at a high level this Saturday to hopefully put us in the best possible position for next week."

The Jaguars are coming off a midweek split with Texas A&M-San Antonio with a 3-2 win and 8-3 loss.

In the win, Cameron Cowan struck out a season-high nine batters for her 14^th win of the season and 32^nd of her career. Her 14 wins puts Cowan third in the RRAC.

It was the 36^th time in her career the Shiner native had pitched a complete game, which is a school record.

Cowan retired the first nine batters she faced with six strikeouts in the first three frames. Her nine punchouts were the second-most in her career.

"I loved seeing that," Ortiz said of the junior. "She played aggressively to attack each batter and it paid off. We've seen it from her in the past and it's what we need this week and next."

Lauren Caka's sacrifice fly in the fifth proved to be the winning RBI. The Yoakum native then went 2-for-4 in Game 2 with an RBI and a pair of doubles.

Madysin Leighton and Kenzie Chambers each had a stolen base against TAMUSA. Leighton ranks fourth in the conference with 25 while Chambers' 27 is second.

"Having those two at the top of the lineup can really open our offense," Ortiz said. "If they get on, we have a good chance to bat with runners in scoring position. It can allow us to be more aggressive."

Claire Blinka, who was named the RRAC Player of the Week this week, continued her clutch hitting on Tuesday.

The Port Lavaca native was 4-for-7 at the plate between the two games and delivered game-tying RBI single in the fifth inning of Game 1. She extended her on-base streak to 13 games and has hit safely in seven of the last eight games.

Blinka's 38 RBIs ranks second in the RRAC.

"Claire has been patient this whole season and now the results are showing," Ortiz said. "As you get to the end of the season and into postseason, you need a few players to step up in clutch spots. That's been Claire these past few weeks and I can't wait to see her keep that going."