ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Softball returns home this weekend to begin American Southwest Conference play by hosting LeTourneau University at Red Bud Park. The three game series begins with a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday and concludes with a single game Saturday at noon.

Live stats and video can be found at mcmurrysports.com.

NOTES:

LAST WEEK: McMurry won their first game of the weekend, 12-9, over Trinity to move to 5-0, but dropped the remaining three games of the weekend. Trinity forced a split by winning game two, 14-8, while Southwestern swept the War Hawks, 9-1 and 7-6.

ASC POLL: With ASC play beginning this week, McMurry was tabbed ninth in the preseason poll by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

RIPLEY AT THE PLATE: Senior first baseman Rachel Ripley leads the War Hawks with a .500 batting average, two home runs and eight RBIs. She ranks second in the ASC in hits (11), is tied for second in home runs (2), is tied for third in RBIs (8), and leads in runs scored (13).

CAUGHT LOOKING: Junior pitcher Hope Schoeneman ranks third in the ASC in strikeouts with 14.

TEAM EFFORT: The War Hawks are batting .308 as a team through their first eight games. Five players are batting over .300 that meet the minimums. Four players have five or more RBIs and six have four or more RBIs.

WALK THIS WAY: McMurry has the game high in the ASC in drawn walks with eight. They have the most walks drawn with 33 on the season.

SCOUTING LETU: The YellowJackets are 2-0 after sweeping a doubleheader against Schreiner last weekend. Pitcher Samantha Akers is the reigning ASC Pitcher of the Week after 3.2 scoreless innings of relief recording an extra inning win. Kennedy Dillow and Haydn Parker each lead the team with a .714 batting average, with Parker leading the team with five RBIs.

FIRST EVER MEETING: After not playing last season, this will mark the first ever meeting between the War Hawks and YellowJackets.