LAST TIME OUT
 
Last weekend the Patriots competed at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic, winning all four games and improving to 9-0 on the year. The Patriots scored at least four runs in each contest and allowed three or less in all four, capped off by an 8-0 shutout of Southern Arkansas in their weekend finale. In that finale, Cera Blanchard was nearly perfect in the circle, allowing just one hit in eight innings while striking out six in the dominant showing.
 
NATIONAL POLL
 
The Patriots remain as the unanimous #1 in the NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, garnering all 16 first place votes. They are slotted 25 points ahead of #2 Auburn Montgomery and 39 ahead of #3 North Georgia. #7 Angelo State, #11 West Texas A&M, #20 Oklahoma Christian, and RV Lubbock Christian represent the LSC.
 
PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS

• UT Tyler softball begins the 21st year of the program with an all-time record of 819-151 (.844) dating back to the inaugural 2005 campaign. The Patriots are 224-33 (.869) in five seasons of Division II play and have gone 134-17 (.887) in Lone Star Conference games over that timeframe.
• The Patriots have won 50-plus games in the last two seasons after going 50-5 back in 2015 and have not registered double-digit losses in a season in 13 straight years. 
• UT Tyler has made 13 appearances in an NCAA National Championship Tournament between the Division II and III levels, and have advanced to the NCAA World Series in 10 of those 13 trips.
• Head coach Mike Reed and his staff garnered ATEC/NFCA South Central Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors for a fourth consecutive season. The honors come in each of the first four complete seasons at the NCAA Division II level. Coach Reed and his staff have been named regional staff of the year by the NFCA on 10 different occasions (2024,2023, 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2009) dating back to the program's inaugural season in 2005. 
• UT Tyler softball is 363-45 (.889) all-time on their home field at Irwin Field, and completed the 2024 season with a 26-2 mark at their home ballpark. The Patriots are 102-8 (.927) in home Lone Star Conference games and have never lost more than six games at home in a season.
• JT Smith, Sam Schott, Taryn Barney, Angelique Rangel, Hailey Fannin, and Kaylee Davis mark a group of returners with national championship experience as they will look to lead a host of newcomers back to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.
• Head coach Mike Reed returns for his 21^st season at the helm of the program after previously serving for three seasons as the head coach at East Texas Baptist before taking over at UT Tyler. Reed is tied for 1^st among all NCAA divisions in career winning percentage (.835), posting a 924-182 career mark through 23 career seasons. He owns the second-highest all-time win percentage among Division III coaches, coaching 18 of his 23 seasons at the Division III level, and is a nine-time American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year, and eight-time NFCA Regional Coach of the Year. He has helped develop 37 All-Americans, 112 all-region and 177 all-conference selections.
• The Patriots have been nothing short of dominant through their first 9 games. They have yet to allow more than three runs in a game and have scored at least three in every game. They currently lead Division II with five shutouts and they are ranked 2^nd in triples, 7^th in doubles, 4^th in ERA, and 3^rd in strikeout to walk ratio.
• In the circle, Primrose Aholelei and Cera Blanchard have 3 and 2 shutouts respectively, good enough for the #1 and #2 spots in Division II. At the plate, JT Smith leads the country in triples thus far, Jordyn De Los Santos is 8^th in doubles, and Abbie Behe is 5^th in sacrifice flies.

 
FALCONS NOTES AND TRENDS

• UT Permian Basin stands at 5-5 as they begin LSC play this weekend. They have lost five of their last six contests, with a pair of those coming against LSC opponents in non-conference play.
• Offensively they are led by Keri Sanford. Sanford is hitting .576 on the year and getting on base at a .622 clip. She has 7 RBI to go with 19 hits and three extra base hits. She has also scored 15 runs and has drawn four walks.
• In the circle, it has been the efforts of Jessica Cantrell that have led the Falcons. She holds a 0.40 ERA in six appearances. That has led to a 3-0 record over 34.2 innings pitched, and she has 40 strikeouts to 13 walks while allowing opponents to hit .125.
• Aubreeana Avila-Oropeza is the head coach of the Falcons and is in her first season. She previously served as the assistant coach at Midland College and played for UT Permian Basin from 2017-2019.

 
LOBOS NOTES AND TRENDS

• Sul Ross State is 3-6 on the year but are winners of three of their last five, including a win over UT Permian Basin in that stretch.
• Tori Owens is the leader at the plate, hitting .433 in 9 starts. She is getting on-base at at .433 rate while posting four doubles, eight RBI, and scoring five runs.
• In the circle, the Lobos are led by Alyvia Quintana who has a 5.52 ERA through five appearances. She has thrown 14.2 innings while allowing nine earned runs and striking out 10 batters.
• Troy Canaba is the head coach of the program and has a career record of 136-191 in his 10 season career with the Lobos.