Sports Feature: Softball and Baseball by: Robbie Almenderez

The Hardin-Simmons University softball and baseball teams have begun their spring competitive season. 

The Cowgirls are currently 16-3 and will play their next game against University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) at Ellis Field on April 6 at 3 p.m.

“This great cohesive group that really supports each other,” Casey Wilson, head softball coach said. “They are very competitive and have shown to play to the very last pitch.” 

The team is competing to make it into the post season tournament and earn an NCAA berth. This has required the girls to play at a higher than average skill level, bringing many of their stats up from last year.

Jazlynn Cantu, a junior undecided major from Abilene has a .457 batting average, with a slugging percentage of .600. 

Haley Henson, a senior criminal justice major from Maypearl, has a batting average of .455 with a slugging percentage of .618.

Lindsey Ratcliffe, a graduate sports management major from Harker Heights, has two home runs, seven doubles and three triples.

Gabby Montanez, a freshman biology major from Weatherford, has a .78 earned run average with an opposing bat average of .176. She won seven games as a starting pitcher and has struck out 34 batters. 

Kelly Shackelford, a graduate psychology major from Southlake, has an opposing batting average of .284 and she struck out six batters and won two games as a starter.

The HSU baseball team has begun their spring competitive season as well. 

Brock Clavillo, a senior exercise science major from Bakersfield, Calif., has a .500 batting average and slugging percentage of .648. Clavillo has 27 hits in this season and nine RBIs with five doubles and one home run. 

Justin Blancaflor, a sophomore criminal justice major from Allen, has a batting average of .362 and slugging percentage of .690. Blancaflor has 21 hits with 20 RBIs, five doubles and one triple. 

Alex Carte, a senior human computer interaction major from Plano, has a 3.50 earned run average with an opposing batting average of .333 while striking out nine batters.