LAST TIME OUT
 
Last weekend saw the Patriots battle it out with UT Permian Basin and Sul Ross State as they kicked off their LSC slate. They were nothing short of dominant, outscoring their opponents 56-4 in the four game sweep. Against the Falcons, the Patriots put together wins of 16-2 and 8-1, and against the Lobos they went even bigger with wins of 17-0 and 15-1.
 
NATIONAL POLL
 
The Patriots continue to remain the unanimous #1 team in the NFCA/Go Rout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, picking up all 16 first place votes for the third consecutive edition of the rankings.
 
Auburn Montgomery sits at number two for the second straight week, and they are followed by Tampa, Wilmington, and Angelo State to round out the top five. #8 West Texas A&M, #20 Oklahoma Christian, and #23 Lubbock Christian also represent the LSC in the poll.
 
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 1^st among all NCAA divisions in career winning percentage (.837), posting a 932-182 career mark in 24 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 13 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 six shutouts and they are ranked 2^nd in triples, 3^rd in doubles, 4^th in ERA, and 1^st 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 #7 spots in Division II. At the plate, JT Smith leads the country in triples thus far, Jordyn De Los Santos is 6^th in doubles, and Bailey Krolczyk is fourth in RBI.

 
#23 LADY CHAPS NOTES AND TRENDS

• Lubbock Christian is 12-2 on the year and 3-1 in LSC play after a series split with #20 Oklahoma Christian and a sweep of Cameron.
• The Lady Chaps are hitting .368 as a team, led by Baylea Myers at .467. She has three doubles and three home runs to go with 15 RBI and 14 runs scored. She also is getting on base at a .500 clip and is slugging .733.
• Seven different pitchers have contributed to a team ERA of 2.96, led by Teoni Lamb. Lamb is 2-1 on the year with a 3.35 ERA as a starter, throwing 23 innings with 23 strikeouts and eight walks.
• The Lady Chaps are led by head coach Daren Hays in his 15^th season. He has spent all 15 seasons of his career with the Lady Chaps and is 561-198 overall.

 
#5 RAMBELLES NOTES AND TRENDS

• Angelo State heads into the weekend at 13-1 overall and 4-0 in LSC play after sweeping both Oklahoma Christian and Cameron. Their lone loss came against Missouri Western back on February 8^th.
• The Rambelles are hitting .280 as a team, led by Laylonna Applin. Applin is hitting a blistering .500 in 13 games with four doubles, two triples and five home runs. She has 19 RBI and 12 runs scored and is getting on base at a .558 clip.
• In the circle, the Rambelles have been tough to hit, sporting a .99 team ERA. Cheyenne Floyd has been the #1 starter, earning a 6-1 record with 38 innings pitched. She has struck out 43 batters and allows opposing hitters to hit just .140.
• Head coach Travis Scott is in his 25^th season of his career and 22^nd at Angelo State. He is 985-364 for his career and is 884-314 with the Rambelles.