Tuesday, April 25, 2017
by Wes Bloomquist || wbloomquist@uttyler.edu

TYLER – The No. 2-ranked UT Tyler softball team won its fourth straight regular-season title and will host the American Southwest Conference Softball Championship from Thursday through Sunday at Suddenlink Field. The Patriots are the top seed in the six-team, double-elimination tournament and will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday against the winner of the Louisiana College and Mary Hardin-Baylor 1 p.m. game. The tournament begins with Concordia and UT Dallas playing at 10 a.m. and that winner to play again at 4 p.m. against East Texas Baptist.

The Patriots (37-2) are on a 21-game winning streak and are 21-1 on their home field this season. The team went 28-2 in ASC play and enters the postseason leading the nation with a .402 team batting average led by Kaylee Prather (.511), Cheyenne Thompson (.446), Andrea Gonzales (.441), Courtney Fisher (.413), Lexi Ackroyd (.410), Mel Hinojosa (.406), Alyssa Henry (..391), KK Stevens (.375), Bianca Van Vlerah (.361) and Hannah Moore (.315). Prather, Thompson and pitcher Alaina Kissinger (20-0) are each finalist for the 2017 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Player of the Year after putting together amazing regular seasons.

“I think this team has been very hungry from the start to turn the page from last year’s National Championship and focus on the legacy for this team,” UT Tyler head coach Mike Reed said. “We graduated some amazing players last year, but we have had players really step up to fill those spots and provide experience in those positions lost that has been a big key to our season. We stay focused on comparing our performance to our potential on a daily basis. That helps us stay focused on the now and this team has embraced that.”

Prather enters the postseason with 70 hits which is rapidly approaching the single-season record of 74 by Lauren Robenalt in 2014. Prather, is already the all-time leader in stolen bases with 70 and is currently the all-time leader with a .467 batting average. Her average of .511 is the best in a single year for any Patriot all-time with Robenalt in second at .451 in that 2014 season. Thompson’s average of .446 is third all-time for a season and Gonzales is at fifth all-time with her .441 average. Prather’s 70 hits are just one away from her 71 hits last year when she finished with a .430 batting average in 165 at-bats. She is currently 70-for-137 at the plate this season with nine doubles, four triples, two home runs and has 23 RBI. A senior from Elysian Fields, Prather has 24 multi-hit games this season and leads the Patriots with 51 runs scored and has 33 stolen bases in 39 games.

Thompson has put together a sensational sophomore season by hitting .446 with 17 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 33 singles. Thompson has started all 39 games in right field with only one error and leads the team with 44 RBI. A Mexia native, Thompson has 89 hits and 67 RBI in her two seasons at UT Tyler. She currently has 12 multi-RBI and 18 multi-hit games for the Patriots. Stevens is a senior with 195 games played of experience entering her fourth ASC postseason. A Plano native, Stevens leads the Patriots with 10 home runs this season and is second with 39 RBI. Her 10 home runs as a senior takes her career total to 28 and she has 147 RBI. Stevens is six hits away from becoming the sixth player in program history to reach the 200-hit milestone.

In her first season with the Patriots, Gonzales has 13 doubles and 33 RBI as the team’s first baseman while Ackroyd has 41 hits this season and 137 hits in her four years at UT Tyler. Ackroyd has started 138 games for the Patriots and has scored 93 runs and has 97 RBI in her career. Hinojosa blasted a three-run home run last weekend against Sul Ross for her second home run of the season and enters the postseason with 43 hits and 32 RBI as a senior, while Van Vlerah has 43 hits and 28 RBI as the team’s second baseman. Moore has added 28 RBI on 23 hits and has made only two errors at short stop this season.

In the circle, Kissinger enters the postseason with a staggering 64-2 record and 1.02 ERA in her career. She has 373 strikeouts in 424 2/3 innings in her four seasons at UT Tyler and has limited opponents to a .176 batting average. Kissinger’s 20-0 record as a senior follows going 13-1 as a junior, 18-0 as a sophomore and 13-1 in her freshman season out of Telephone, Texas. Her 1.02 ERA is the best in program history and her 64 wins is second all-time behind only Kelsie Batten who won 118 games as a Patriot. The team is 24-0 this season in games that Kissinger has started.

UT Tyler freshman Whitney Romero is now 13-1 on the season and leads the team with a 0.99 ERA. A Louisiana native, she also has 70 strikeouts in 85 innings of work for the Patriots and one no-hitter. Miranda Leal adds to the pitching depth and enters the postseason with a 4-1 record and 20 strikeouts in 31 innings during her freshman season out of San Antonio. The Patriot pitching staff has a combined 1.53 ERA with 179 strikeouts and only 38 walks. Opponents are hitting just .200 against them and have been limited to 60 runs in 39 games coming into Thursday’s 7 p.m. game.

UT Tyler has not lost since a 3-2 defeat at ETBU on March 8 in Marshall that followed a 12-8 loss to UMHB on March 4. The Patriots have rolled since and enter the postseason with a 315-60 run differential against their opponents. The Tigers are the defending ASC tournament champion and enter this year’s tournament with a 33-6 record and are on a 13-game winning streak. The Comets are the third seed in the tournament with a 32-8 record and a 12-game winning streak. ETBU will play the winner of the CTX/UTD matchup in its first-round game.

“The competition level in the ASC tournament is always incredible and this year might be the best so far,” Reed said. “You have to play well every inning in such a competitive tournament as this one.”

Tournament Bracket | Tournament History | ASC Overall Stats  | ASC-Only Stats

No. 2 UT Tyler Patriots	No. 14 ETBU Tigers	No. 16 UT Dallas Comets	UMHB Cru	Louisiana College Wildcats	Concordia Tornados
37-2, 28-2 ASC; W21	33-6, 25-5; W13	32-8, 24-6; W12	26-14, 20-10; L1	24-15, 18-12; L11	19-21, 12-18; W5
ROSTER	ROSTER	ROSTER	ROSTER	ROSTER	ROSTER
SCHEDULE/RESULTS	SCHEDULE/RESULTS	SCHEDULE/RESULTS	SCHEDULE/RESULTS	SCHEDULE/RESULTS	SCHEDULE/RESULTS
STATISTICS	STATISTICS	STATISTICS	STATISTICS	STATISTICS	STATISTICS

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Double-Elimination

THURSDAY, April 27

GAME ONE (10 a.m.)
No. 3 UT Dallas  vs. No. 6 Concordia   | VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊  

GAME TWO (1 p.m.) 
No. 4 Mary Hardin-Baylor   vs. No. 5 Louisiana College   | VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

GAME THREE (4 p.m.)
No. 2 East Texas Baptist  vs. GAME 1 WINNER  | VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

GAME FOUR (7 p.m.)
No. 1 UT Tyler   vs. GAME 2 WINNER  | VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

FRIDAY, April 28

GAME FIVE (10 a.m.)
GAME 2 LOSER vs. GAME 3 LOSER  |  VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

GAME SIX (1 p.m.)
GAME 1 LOSER vs. GAME 4 LOSER  |  VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

GAME SEVEN (4 p.m.)
GAME 3 WINNER vs. GAME 4 WINNER  |  VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

GAME EIGHT (7 p.m.)
GAME 5 WINNER vs. GAME 6 WINNER  |  VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊 

SATURDAY, April 29

GAME NINE (2 p.m.)
GAME 8 WINNER vs. GAME 7 LOSER  |  VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

GAME TEN (5 p.m.)
GAME 7 WINNER vs. GAME 9 WINNER  |  VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

SUNDAY, April 30 

GAME ELEVEN (1 p.m. - IF-NEEDED)
GAME 10 TEAMS  |  VIDEO BROADCAST 📺 / LIVE STATS 📊

NCAA Division III Championship
Bracket announced live online Monday, May 8 at 12 p.m. on NCAA.com

Regionals - May 12-14
Super Regionals - May 19-20
(Played at campus sites)

NCAA Division III Finals - May 25-30
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

# Ineligible for 2017 ASC Championship/NCAA Tournament (Div. III Provisional)

NOTES: Admission: $5 adults, $3 students, senior citizens … Shirts will be $20 at the tournament. NO PETS ALLOWED at the conference tournament per ASC policy, leashed or unleashed, within the confines of the facility … From 1999 to 2013 the ASC Championship was hosted at a neutral location. Texas-Tyler is the only ASC member to host the ASC Softball Championship … To talk about / follow the tournament on Twitter, use the hashtag: #ASCsb The 2017 ASC Softball Championship Tournament is the 19th postseason event dating back to 1999. The ASC tournament winner earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

Campus Map (With Parking):
- Class will be in session during the week.  
- Handicap parking available.

Spectator Policies and Guidelines

ADA Accommodations: Trained guide dogs, signal dogs, or "service animals" are permitted inside athletic venues.

Bag Search: All bags are subject to search upon entry and within athletic venues.

Banners and Signs: Please note:

• Signs cannot be hung on any surface;
• Signs cannot obstruct another guest's view;
• Signs cannot cover existing advertising or signage;
• Signs must be in good taste;
• Signs may not be commercial or political in nature;
• Signs may not be constructed of wood or metal material.

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Cameras/Video Recorders: Hand-held still camera photography is permitted at games for noncommercial personal photography. The use of tripods or video photography of any type is not permitted.

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Concession Stands: UT Tyler provides a wide range of food and beverage items for sale at athletic events.

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Ejection: Law enforcement and game management personnel reserve the right to eject any person whose behavior is unruly or illegal in nature. Game tickets will be collected from those fans without refund and the guest will be escorted from the venue.

First Aid: First aid is available during all events by contact game management personnel.

Lost and Found: Lost and found articles should be taken to the nearest game management staff member. After an event, all found articles will be taken to the athletic department offices. Call (903) 566-7105 for information following an event.

Lost Children/Parents: All lost children should be escorted to the nearest law enforcement and game management staff member. Lost children will then be escorted to the nearest security center. Lost parents should follow the same procedure.

Paging: Paging is permitted in case of medial emergencies only. If a medical emergency arises, contact the game management personnel.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

• Alcohol; Bottles and Cans; Illegal Drugs; Confetti; Firearms and Weapons; Fireworks; Animals; Horns, whistles, noise makers; Signs, flags, and sticks; Umbrellas; Laser pointers; Food and beverages of any kind; Any container other than soft-sided purses, camera bags, fanny/back packs, and diaper bags less than 12" by 12" by 12"; Any item deemed to be a safety or security hazard.

Radios/Televisions: Radios and televisions are permitted so long as they do not disturb others seated nearby.

Restrooms: Restrooms are located at all venues.

Stadium Emergencies: In the event of a serious emergency, game management staff, law enforcement and fire personnel are available to assist all patrons, including those with disabilities.

UT Tyler Address:
The University of Texas at Tyler
3900 University Blvd.
Tyler, Texas  75799