Softball heading to No. 9 LSUA, (RV) A&M-Texarkana

With 14 games left in the season, UHV softball is set for two big Red River Athletic Conference series.

The Jaguars (19-13, 11-3) continue their month-long road trip with doubleheaders at No. 9-ranked LSU Alexandria, on Saturday, and (RV) Texas A&M-Texarkana, on Sunday.

UHV enters the weekend tied for third with A&M-Texarkana (23-5, 10-2) in the RRAC standings after a sweep of Texas A&M-San Antonio on Tuesday, which also secured a spot in the RRAC tournament in May. Head coach Lindsey Ortiz hopes this is a springboard for the Jaguars to make a strong run to close the regular season.

"This is the time of year where we need to start feeling like we're putting it all together and finding more consistency," Ortiz said. "We want to be playing our best softball as we get into April. This is a great opportunity because, if we go out and compete with the best, that shows we're playing our best softball."

UHV's offense has seen a spark over the last 10 games with an 8-2 record over that time.

In the last 10 games, the Jaguars have scored 20 runs in the first inning alone. That's attributed to a lineup adjustment where Ortiz put senior first baseman Claire Blinka in the leadoff spot.

Since taking over as the leadoff hitter, Blinka boasts a first-inning slash line of .667/.800/1.889 with three home runs, three RBIs and a triple. Over those 10 games, Blinka is hitting .594 with 14 RBIs and four home runs. Her .459 average this season ranks third in the RRAC.

As a team, UHV is hitting .336 and averaging 6.9 runs per game since the change to the lineup.

"When we did it, I expected there to be a little transition," Ortiz said. "But I'm super impressed with how Blinka has embraced it and gone into it two feet forward. She's got such a presence about her that makes the pitcher work hard no matter what. I think she's utilizing that presence to the best of her ability. She gives us confidence when we see her up there. And also, who wants to give up a home run the first at-bat of the game? That puts you at such a mental advantage over your competitor."

UHV pitchers also put together two strong staff performances to sweep A&M-San Antonio on Tuesday.

Audrie Sayas earned her ninth win of the season with a complete-game effort in a 1-0 win in Game 1. Hope Quinones and Jocelyne Galvan combined to hold TAMUSA without an earned run over 5.2 innings in a 9-7 win in Game 2, with Galvan earning the win. Sayas came on to earn her first save of the season with 1.1 innings of hitless softball.

Sayas ranks in the top five in the RRAC in ERA (2.11), wins, strikeouts (52) and saves.

The growth of the pitching staff and willingness to do whatever is asked of them is something Ortiz feels is key for a push late in the season and into the conference tournament.

"For us to truly have that success we're working toward, we're going to have to rely on them as a staff," Ortiz said. "To see them work with each other, support each other and really execute in the way we had set it out to be is very exciting and encouraging. I think this weekend is going to be a big opportunity for them to build on that."