#6 West Texas A&M (47-7) vs. CSU Pueblo (40-16)
vs. CSUP	Thursday, May 14th - 2:30 p.m.
Location | Venue	Canyon, Texas | Schaeffer Park
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Other Links	Game Notes | Championship Central

CANYON, TEXAS – The #6 Lady Buffs begin the NCAA Postseason on Thursday afternoon as they battle seventh-seeded Colorado State Pueblo during the opening game of the 2026 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championships at Schaeffer Park with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Canyon. The double-elimination tournament also features #16 Angelo State as well as Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
THIS IS LADY BUFF SOFTBALL
West Texas A&M Softball is in their 21st season of NCAA competition as the Lady Buffs are a staggering 828-332 (.714) since reviving the program prior to the 2006 campaign. WT has won three South Central Regional Championships (2014, 2016, 2021) along with a pair of NCAA Division II National Championships (2014, 2021).
 
LADY BUFFS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Lady Buffs are making the program's 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) as they host the South Central Regional Championships for the 10th time (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026). The Lady Buffs are 45-29 (.608) all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
 
WT HEAD COACH MICHAEL MOOK
In just six seasons, Michael Mook has led West Texas A&M to a 289-68 (.811) mark while claiming the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship. Mook is a three-time Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year (2024, 2025, 2026) who has led the Lady Buffs to five NCAA Postseason appearances (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025. 2026). Mook recently agreed to a three-year contract extension to keep him the WT dugout until atleast the Summer of 2028. 
 
A new era of Lady Buff softball began on June 20, 2019, as Mook was hired as the third head coach in program history. Mook went 154-61 during his four-year tenure at Valley City State University including an impressive 54-5 in 2019 leading the Vikings to their third-ever appearance at the NAIA World Series.
 
SCOUTING THE THUNDERWOLVES
CSU Pueblo enters the weekend with an overall record of 40-16 as they went 34-10 during Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The ThunderWolves won the program's first RMAC Tournament Title since 2001 last weekend to claim the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Postseason. CSUP topped MSU Denver (1-0) in the semifinals before handing top-seeded Colorado Christian an 8-2 defeat in the title game.
 
Caitlyn Cole leads the way offensively for the ThunderWolves as the senior from Merced, California is hitting .416 on the year with 16 doubles, five triples and 11 homeruns to drive in 36 RBI for a slugging percentage of .735 while stealing 34-of-37 bases as she earned First Team All-RMAC honors as well as being named to the Golden Glove team. CSUP is hitting .324 as a team this season with 110 doubles, 16 triples and 47 homeruns to drive in 296 RBI, scoring 325 runs on 479 hits while stealing 96-of-120 bases.
 
McKenna James, the RMAC Pitcher of the Year, has been the ace in the circle for the ThunderWolves as the senior from Windsor, Colorado is 21-8 with a 1.65 ERA as the right-hander has tossed 23 complete games with six shutouts. She has allowed 69 runs (45 earned) on 167 hits with 49 walks and 136 strikeouts in 191.1 frames for an opposing batting average of .227. James was named the RMAC Tournament Most Valuable Player last weekend. CSUP holds a 2.46 staff ERA, allowing 185 runs (133 earned) on 351 hits in 378.2 innings for an opposing batting average of .240.
 
CSUP HEAD COACH BIANCA DURAN
Biance Duran is in her first season leading the Colorado State-Pueblo softball program. Duran led the ThunderWolves to the program's first RMAC Tournament Crown since 2001. Duran came to Pueblo after spending the five seasons at NCAA Division I Louisiana Tech. She served as the assistant coach for four years before accepting the role of Interim Head Coach in September of 2020. The Westminster, Colorado native played two seasons at Louisiana Tech in 2014 and 2015, earning NFCA First Team All-Mideast Region honors.
 
THE SERIES
The Lady Buffs and ThunderWolves meet for the 13th time on Thursday afternoon as WT holds the 11-1 advantage in the series that dates back to 2006. CSU Pueblo is 0-5 all-time at Schaeffer Park with their last trip coming in 2024. It will mark the first ever postseason meeting between the two teams. 
 
THUNDERWOLVES IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
CSU Pueblo makes their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament (2001, 2009, 2026) as they are 2-4 (.333) overall.
 
May 11, 2001 - vs. St. Mary's (L, 8-0) - Pueblo, Colorado
May 11, 2001 - vs. Colorado Mesa (L, 1-0) - Pueblo, Colorado
May 8, 2009 - vs. Colorado School of Mines (W, 7-1) - Denver, Colorado
May 9, 2009 - vs. Colorado Mesa (L, 8-3) - Denver, Colorado
May 9, 2009 - vs. Colorado School of Mines (W, 3-1) - Denver, Colorado
May 10, 2009 - vs. Colorado Mesa (L, 10-6) - Denver, Colorado
 
LSC POSTSEASON AWARDS
Nine Lady Buffs claimed accolades highlighted by Jordyn De Los Santos winning LSC Player of the Year honors while Michael Mook was tabbed the league's Coach of the Year for the third straight season.
 
De Los Santos was joined on the LSC First Team by Trinity Kuntz, Bella Holland, Mya Chacon, Brooke Janning and Cadence Colborn. The Second Team featured Abby Howell and Laci Peskey while Emily Liskai and Heaven Moreno claimed Third Team accolades. Janning and Holland were both named to the All-Freshman squad while Liskai earned Golden Glove acclaim. Colborn, Liskai and Avery Cannon were honored for their efforts in the classroom as members of the All-Academic team.