Jags set for series with LSU-A, No. 7 Texas A&M-Texarkana

UHV softball is set to hit the road to face LSU-Alexandria and seventh-ranked Texas A&M-Texarkana this weekend.

The team will face the Generals in a doubleheader at 12 p.m. Saturday before facing the Eagles in a doubleheader on Sunday at 11 a.m. UHV and TAMU-Texarkana were scheduled to play Friday, but forecasted rain pushed the series back to Sunday.

TAMU-Texarkana and LSU-A are currently first and second, respectively, in the Red River Athletic Conference East Division.

Last year, the Jaguars season ended against the Eagles in the semifinals of the RRAC Tournament.

Despite one- and two-run losses to No. 2-ranked Our Lady of the Lake on Tuesday, the Jaguars enter the weekend roadtrip with plenty of confidence.

"When we talked after the doubleheader the other day, the majority of the message was how much better we played compared to the first time we played OLLU," said head coach Lindsey Ortiz. "The scores weren't that different, but the product we put on the field was much better. We have to take that and continue to build on it. If OLLU is No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the conference and that's the kind of competition we put up, we have to continue to do that against these other teams."

Pitching was a big key for the Jaguars against the Saints.

Cameron Cowan and Cameron Steen worked to strand 13 of the 21 batters who reached base. Both turned in complete game efforts.

"I think with the both of them doing what they're doing, it makes us an entirely different team," Ortiz said. "We're able to maintain consistency now, which gives us confidence. Both of their efforts on that have been huge. We're really excited to see that carry into this later part of the conference schedule."

In the second game against OLLU, a 3-2 loss, UHV (13-12, 7-5) got multi-hit performances by Lauren Caka, Claire Blinka and Alana Ortega. Blinka went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Ortega has used a hot bat over the last few weeks, picking up a hit in nine of the last 10 games with a .375 average in that time.

Caka was 3-for-6 in the series against the Saints and has hit safely in eight of the last 10 games.

"We have proven we can compete with anybody at this level," Ortiz said. "It's just a matter of showing up, playing with our energy and gameplan, and sticking to our identity. If we carry that into this weekend, we're going to do well."