Game Notes (PDF)
Friday Live Stats (FLC | CSUP)
Saturday Live Stats (DIXIE | HSU)
Sunday Live Stats (FLC)
Live Twitter Updates (@WTAthletics)

CANYON, Texas – The #22 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M will open up the 2016 season on the road this weekend as they travel to St. George, Utah for the Dixie State Invitational held at Karl Brooks Field and the Canyons Softball Complex on February 5-7. WT will take on Fort Lewis (twice), CSU-Pueblo, #13 Humboldt State and host #2 Dixie State on opening weekend.
 
- SCOUTING THE FIELD
FORT LEWIS
Fort Lewis is led by first year head coach Elle Fracker who served as the head softball coach at Valley City State University since August 2013. The Skyhawks are coming off a 16-31 season in 2015 where they went 14-22 and finished 11th in the RMAC.
 
1st Team All-RMAC selection Missy Fundora returns for the Skyhawks after hitting .409 last season with a team leading 17 doubles while senior Kiley Raica returns in the circle following a 2015 season where she went 6-13 with a 6.03 ERA.
 
COLORADO STATE-PUEBLO
The ThunderWolves are led by fourth year head coach Christie Zinanti who las led CSUP to three straight RMAC Tournaments. Pueblo is coming off a 28-23 season in 2015 where they went 23-13 and finished fourth in the RMAC.
 
The Pack is led by senior Madison Wolfe who hit .353 last season with 13 doubles and four homeruns to drive in 22 RBI while going 7-7 in the circle with a 4.31 ERA in 105.2 innings.
 
#2 DIXIE STATE
The Red Storm are led by eighth year head coach Randy Simkins who has led Dixie to three CWS appearances and four PacWest Titles. Dixie State is coming off of a National Runner-Up finish in 2015 as they set a school record with 52 wins (52-8) while winning the PacWest title at 31-1. Dixie State carries a 49-game home win streak into the 2016 season.
 
The Red Storm are led by returning 1st Team All-American and NFCA DII National Freshman of the Year Janessa Bassett who hit .449 in 2015 with 13 doubles and 12 triples to drive in 30 RBI while 2nd Team All-Region selection and PacWest Preseason Pitcher of the Year Aryn Feickert leads the way in the circle as she went 20-5 with a 2.18 ERA.
 
#13 HUMBOLDT STATE
Humboldt State is led by third year head coach Shelli Sarchett who was a member of the Jacks' 1999 National Championship team. The Jacks are coming off of a West Regional Tournament appearance in 2015 as they finished the season with an overall record of 42-19 with a 25-11 mark in CCAA play.
 
Humboldt State is led by NFCA All-West Region selection Tiffany Hollingsworth who hit .369 for the Jacks last season with 15 doubles and 17 homeruns to drive in 65 RBI while senior        Katie Obbema went 21-11 in the circle with a 2.54 ERA as she struck out 186 opposing batters in her 204.0 innings of work.
 
TRADITION NEVER GRADUATES
The Lady Buffs return nine letter-winners from last season's LSC Championship team that registered an overall record of 45-11, All-American selections Lacey Taylor, Stacey Ramirez and Allie Smith highlight the talented returning group that have led WT to back-to-back LSC Titles. Taylor and Ramirez are joined by Brittany Gehle, Tori Bayer and Andrea Sitter for a senior class that looks to become the winningest in program history as they have registered a 149-31 (82.8%) mark over the last three seasons in Canyon.
 
2015 IN-REVIEW
The Lady Buffs continued their dominance in 2015 as Kevin Blaskowski led the program to their second straight and third overall Lone Star Conference Championship as they finished the season 45-11 with a 22-6 mark in LSC play. WT made national news during the 2015 season, remaining the top team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top-25 Poll for a record 56-straight weeks (2/26/14 - 3/25/15). WT led the nation in four offensive statistical categories during the 2015 season while also hitting 102 homeruns to become the first team in Division II history to reach the century mark in back-to-back years. Senior outfielder Renee Erwin concluded her incredible collegiate career in style as the Anna, Texas native became the first player in history to be named a back-to-back winner of the Daktronics Ron Lenz National Player of the Year award.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Lady Buffs have turned Schaeffer Park in Canyon into one of the top home environments in all of NCAA Division II Softball. WT is 141-26 (.844) at Schaeffer Park since the facility opened prior to the 2011 season including 55-12 (.821) during regular season Lone Star Conference games in Canyon. 2015 marked the fourth time in the last five years ('11, '13, '14, '15) that the Lady Buffs hosted NCAA Postseason action in Canyon.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
The Dixie State Athletic Communications Department will provide live stats for all games during opening weekend in St. George, Utah. Fans can also follow the WT Athletics (@WTAthletics) Twitter account for live updates during all games. For links and more information, visit the Lady Buff Softball schedule page at GoBuffsGo.com.
 
LSC PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WT senior catcher and returning 1st Team All-American Lacey Taylor was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year on Jan. 27th. Taylor was a 1st Team All-American while finishing in the Top-10 for the Schutt Sports NFCA DII National Player of the Year Award. She registered a .458 batting average with 11 doubles, two triples and 12 homeruns to drive in 63 RBI for a slugging percentage of .813 while tallying 40 walks for an on-base clip of .584. The Byers native registered 271 putouts with 22 assists and just two errors for a fielding percentage of .993.