Jags set to open RRAC Tourney Saturday as No. 3 seed vs. A&M-San Antonio
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The (RV) UHV softball team is returning to the scene where they began the most historic postseason run.
The No. 3 seed Jaguars (30-10) open play at 12 p.m. Saturday in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament, hosted by Louisiana Christian and LSU Alexandria, against Texas A&M-San Antonio (24-18) in a push for a seventh conference title.
The tournament was originally scheduled to start on Thursday, but was pushed back to Saturday due to forecasted thunderstorms.
The last time UHV competed in the conference tournament hosted by Louisiana Christian in 2021, they won the championship and advanced to the NAIA Softball World Series for the first time in program history.
The Jaguars advanced to their sixth straight RRAC Semifinal last year and are hoping for some more magic in Louisiana.
"We've been preparing for this tournament since the moment it ended last year," said head coach Lindsey Ortiz. "Our athletes have works so hard day in and day out, so we are all ready and excited for this opportunity."
UHV swept the season series with its Jaguar counterparts from San Antonio by scores of 7-1, 11-2, 8-0 and 5-0.
Those four wins helped the Jaguars eclipse the 30-win mark for the 13th time in program history.
The thing Ortiz is most excited about is the versatility of her team, meaning, on any given day, she feels any of her players can step up when their number is called.
Kenzie Chambers ranks second in the RRAC in batting average at .514 and has hit safely in eight of her last nine games. She also leads the conference in stolen bases with teammate Madysin Leighton right behind her in second with 37 this year.
Kaylle Lopez and Claire Blinka ranks first and second in RBIs with 52 and 47, respectively.
Allison Snedeker ranks fourth in the conference with seven home runs.
As a team, UHV's offense is hitting .389 in RBI opportunities and a mind-boggling .813 with runners at third and less than two outs.
Defensively, the Jaguars rank second in staff ERA at 2.37 and have allowed the second-fewest runs this season.
Senior Cameron Cowan has led that charge, ranking in the top five in ERA (1.63), wins (14) and strikeouts (76). This season, the right-hander from Shiner holds UHV's all-time records for wins, strikeouts, complete games, games started and innings pitched.
"I think the most exciting thing about the tournament is you never know who is going to be the one to step up and take it by storm," Ortiz said. "We have several girls who have had record-setting years, but I think our ability to keep a team-first mentality takes the pressure off of any one of them having to shoulder all of it."
2024 RRAC Softball Tournament Schedule
Saturday, May 4 - ALL GAMES AT CHAMPIONS SPORTSPLEX
Game 1: #1 Our Lady of the Lake vs. #8 Xavier, 12 noon (FIELD 1)
Game 2: #4 Louisiana Christian vs. #5 Texas A&M-Texarkana, 12 noon (FIELD 2)
Game 3: #2 LSU Alexandria vs. #7 Texas College, 12 noon (FIELD 3)
Game 4: #3 Houston-Victoria vs. #6 Texas A&M-San Antonio, 12 noon (FIELD4)
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 3 p.m. (FIELD 3)
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 3 p.m. (FIELD 4)
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3 p.m. (FIELD 1)
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 3 p.m. (FIELD 2)
Sunday May 5 (LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY - WILDCAT PARK
Game 9: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6, 1:30 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 4 p.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, May 6 (LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY - WILDCAT PARK
Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 12 noon
Championship Game #1: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 2:30 p.m.
Championship Game #2: If necessary, 5 p.m.