Tournament Live Stats
SAN ANTONIO – Entering his third season as the Wildcats' head softball coach,
Bobby Reeves has his team positioned for a run at a second straight berth in the NCAA post-season and maybe more.
Last year's team started 12-1 en route to a 30-18 finish and the program's first berth in the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament for the first time in three seasons. ACU has been picked to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference this season, but the Wildcats are also ranked No. 22 in the country in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association pre-season poll.
The Wildcats will get their 2013 season started this weekend with four games over two days at the St. Mary's Spring Invitational. ACU will kick off the season at 10 a.m. against Texas A&M International, followed by a noon game against Lubbock Christian University. ACU will return to the field Saturday at 10 a.m. to take on St. Edward's before finishing up the invitational at 4 p.m. against Texas-Permian Basin.
The Wildcats placed fifth in the league last season at 14-10, but went 30-18 overall en route to qualifying for its first NCAA D-II South Central Regional Championship in three years. Nine letterwinners are back from last year's team, including the entire pitching staff, plus all-region outfielder
Keanna Winkfield and Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year
Courtney Flanary.
A centerfielder, Winkfield will be flanked by returners
Madison Buckley and
Lyndi Smith, while Flanary will likely resume her role as designated player. The Wildcats also bring back the golden glove and steady arm of shortstop
Sara Vaughn.
Heather Peacock, who batted .335 last spring for Ranger College with 47 RBI, 18 doubles and three triples, is the Wildcats' lone offseason transfer. The remaining six newcomers come straight from the Texas High School ranks, giving Reeves an all-Lone Star state roster.
ACU's rotation features seniors
Caitlyn Crain and
Shelby Hall and junior
Peyton Mosley. This trio finished first in the conference a year ago with a 2.42 ERA and Mosley was named first team all-conference after recording 11 wins, a 2.59 ERA, three shutouts, and 63 strikeouts. Crain led the Wildcats with 14 wins, 82 strikeouts, and a conference-best 2.13 ERA in her first year at ACU.
