Game Notes
Tournament Central
Tickets 
 
CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M softball concludes preseason action this weekend (Feb. 18-20) as the No. 5 Lady Buffs host the annual WT Invitational.   The tournament features six Division II programs with Adams State, Fort Lewis, Northern State, Texas A&M-Commerce, UT Permian Basin and WT. 
 
The Lady Buffs will face Adams State in their home opener on Friday at 2:30 p.m. CT followed by a game against Fort Lewis at 6:30 p.m.  On Saturday, WT will face Fort Lewis again at 2:30 p.m. before a game against Northern State at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Buffs will face Adams State for the final preseason game on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. 
 
GAME COVERAGE
Live stats and stream will be available for fans to stay up-to-date on all Lady Buff action provided by the WT athletic communications department and the Lone Star Conference Digital Network.  The LSC Digital Network will offer season passes giving fans access to all regular-season contests. 
 
In addition, viewers have the option to purchase a $10 day pass that provides access to all broadcasts aired that day and access to all archived content for 24 hours. For more information, visit WT's softball schedule at GoBuffsGo.com. 
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
The Grizzlies opened the season 2-2 at the South Central Region Crossover tournament where they defeated Eastern New Mexico, 13-1, and UT Permian Basin, 3-1.  ASU is led by 13^th-year head coach Dervin Taylor.  Under Taylor, he led the program to two consecutive RMAC West Championships.
 
Jade Garbiso leads the Grizzlies offense with a .556 batting average. The junior from Pueblo, Colo., hit two triples in the four games with three RBI including eight runs.  Six pitchers have seen action on the mound this season lead by Taylor Sandoval with four appearances and one start.  Sandoval has a .81 ERA allowing two runs, one earned on 13 hits.   
 
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
Fort Lewis makes the trip to Canyon with a 0-4 overall record, including a loss against the Lady Buffs.  The Skyhawks are led by first-year head coach Dwight Sanders after he spending five seasons at Otero Junio College. 
 
Alex Tenorio leads the Skyhawks offense with a .417 batting average while Cat Rodman has collected a pair of RBI.  In the circle, FLC has an 8.58 ERA led by Hailie Mann at 7.95.  The freshman has made four appearances at the mound allowing 19 runs (14 earned). 
 
SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE
The Northern State Wolves are off to 4-0 start to their 2022 campaign.  NSU has outscored opponents 23-5 led by first-year head coach Ashley Schilling after she took over the program in the fall of 2021. 
 
Two players are hitting .500 for the Wolves in Ashley Fauske and Claire ZBylut.  Fauske has a team-high seven hits on the season while Zbylut leads with four RBI.  Meghan Anderson and Reagan Elrod each have registered two starts in the circle this season both collecting a pair of wins.  Anderson has collected two 15 strikeout games. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Buffs are on five-game win streak after going undefeated at the Visit Lubbock Collegiate Classic tournament hosted by Lubbock Christian.  WT outscored opponents 32-2 as they defeated Chadron State, Fort Lewis, Colorado Christian, Colorado School of Mines and UCCS including three shutouts. 
 
AROUND THE LONE STAR
No. 1 UT Tyler leads the Lone Star Conference standings after opening the season at 11-0 followed by Angelo State at 10-1 with a nine-game win streak.  Texas A&M-Kingsville (8-1) ranks third in the standings followed by St. Mary's (10-2) and Cameron (9-2) to round out the top five. 
 
LUCKY NUMBER 40
Junior centerfielder Ruby Salzman registered her 40^th career home run in the Lady Buffs shutout against UCCS on Sunday. The Northridge, Calif. became the sixth player in program history to reach the milestone. 
 
NFCA RANKINGS
UT Tyler remained atop the national standings after opening the season 9-0, unanimously receiving all 16-possible first-place votes.  Valdosta State (6-2) jumped five spots to second followed by North Georgia (8-2), Concordia Irvine (12-0) and WT (6-2).  
 
Three fellow members of the Lone Star Conference ranked in the standings with Angelo State sitting ninth along with Oklahoma Christian and Texas A&M-Kingsville in 15^th and 20^th while Texas A&M-Commerce is receiving votes. 
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
The UT Tyler Patriots were chosen to defend the regular-season title after picking up 22 of the possible 43 first place votes for a total of 654 points to sit atop the poll followed by the Lady Buffs (16-fpv), Angelo State (1-fpv), Oklahoma Christian (3-fpv), and Texas A&M-Commerce to close out the top five selections. 
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville (1-fpv) ranked sixth followed by Lubbock Christian, Texas A&M International, Cameron, St. Mary's, St. Edward's, Midwestern State, Texas Woman's, UT Permian Basin, Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico rounding out the poll.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs return to action to Schaeffer Park on Friday, March 4 when they welcome the No. 1 UT Tyler Patriots for the conference opener.