CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team will officially usher in the
Blake Miller era this weekend with the CenturyLink Classic, hosted by Texas State. First pitch of the 2017 season is slated for 12:30 p.m. on Friday against Iowa, before a 7 p.m start time against Texas Tech.
On Saturday, the Blue and Green face host Texas State and Southland Conference foe Abilene Christian at 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Opening weekend wraps up with a noon first pitch with the Red Raiders on Sunday.
Information regarding tickets, directions and links to games can be found on the
tournament central page.
A&M-Corpus Christi aims to return to the Southland Conference Tournament in 2017 after missing out last season. Senior leadership in
Mackinzee Griebel and
Liz Carter will guide the youth-laden roster on the Island.
Carter enters her final season on the Island with 365 strikeouts, second most in program history, after punching out a career-best 154 in 2016. Sophomore
Candice Hadd led the team in home runs and RBI as a freshman.
2017 will offer plenty of opportunities for the six newcomers, including freshmen
Lacey Boyd,
Lexi Shaw and
Kandace Johnson, to gain experience early in their careers.
This weekend starts a month-long road swing for the Blue and Green with the first 18 games of the season away from the Coastal Bend. The Islanders return home on March 8 for a doubleheader against Prairie View A&M at Chapman Field.
IOWA
>> Friday marks the second straight time that the Islanders will open up a season against the Hawkeyes.
>> Last year,
Candice Hadd's two-RBI single gave the Blue and Green a 2-1 victory at Chapman Field, which made the Islanders a perfect 2-0 against the Big Ten opponents.
>> The Hawkeyes finished last in the Big Ten in 2016 with a record 3-20 in conference play and 13-39 overall.
TEXAS STATE
>> Texas State capped 2016 with an appearance in the Sun Belt Championship game, after finishing third in the regular season.
>> The Bobcats hold a 30-14 series lead over the Islanders after a season sweep at Chapman Field last year.
TEXAS TECH
>> The Red Raiders went 23-32, with a 6-12 mark in conference play, in 2016 to finish sixth in the Big 12.
>> Friday will be the first meeting between the two clubs since 2014. The series record is tied at 6-6.
ABILENE CHRISTIAN
>> The Islanders will play a Southland Conference foe in the non-conference season for the fourth straight year.
>> The Wildcats posted a 19-8 record in the league last season to finish third, despite not being eligible for the conference tournament.
>>
Megan Mitchell drove in the decisive run in a 4-3 win last year for the Blue and Green in the series opener.
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- Go Islanders -
