Softball: Catching on
Coming into any situation as the low player on the totem pole can be a difficult task. It takes time to develop trust and comfort as the newest component of a well-oiled machine.
Notebook: Pioneers have history of handling adversity
If the postseason has proven anything to the TWU softball team, it’s that the squad possesses a knack for handling pressure and adversity. It’s faced its share while rolling through the Lone Star Conference tournament and regional and super regional rounds to reach this week’s NCAA Division II championship tournament.
Softball: Journey continues
TWU’s outfield fence at Pioneer Field is getting a little crowded. On Saturday, the Pioneers found out they are going to need more room for at least one more banner when they neutralized St. Edward’s to three hits for the second straight game in a 3-0 victory on the back of junior pitcher Brandie Lander’s three-hitter. Coupled with its 4-1 win on Friday, TWU took the NCAA South Central Super Regional to advance to the NCAA Division II Women’s Softball Championship in Salem, Va., beginning Thursday.
Softball: Just one more
In another balanced bouquet of pitching and hitting for TWU that saw senior pitcher Larisa Garcia hold St. Edward’s to just three hits, it was TWU’s demonstrative defense that fortified the Pioneers’ 4-1 victory in the first game of the NCAA South Central Super Regional at Pioneer Field on Friday night.
Gymnastics: Cochefski earns All-District honors
TWU junior gymnast Courtney Cochefski has been named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District Women’s at-large first team. She will now qualify for Academic All-America consideration.
Softball: Team embraces coach’s easy-going style
TWU head coach Richie Bruister isn’t afraid to kick back and have a little fun, but when it’s time to get serious, he does.
TWU Notebook: In good arms
Moments after the celebrating had quieted down following Sunday’s South Central Regional victory, the first words from TWU coach Richie Bruister to the media were directed at his pitching coach and pitching staff.
Softball: Finishing the job
Time and time again, the TWU Pioneers have delivered the punctual hit to seize control of a game. Lizzy Kelly came up with a crucial two-run single in the third inning, but in the final game of the NCAA South Central Regional 1 tournament, it was Larisa Garcia’s complete-game, two-hit shutout that bolstered the Pioneers to a 2-0 victory over St. Mary’s on Sunday at Pioneer Field.
Softball: TWU beats Midwestern to reach final
The TWU Pioneers put themselves in the final game of the NCAA South Central Regional 1 tournament with a stout pitching performance by Brandie Lander and a towering grand slam by Katie Hines to defeat Midwestern State 7-1 on Saturday at Pioneer Field.
Softball: Pioneers open regionals with win
The TWU Pioneers know they need to score more runs today if they are going to hang with Midwestern State.
Softball: TWU finds success one step at a time
In sports, a change of temperament and tactics when entering the postseason is often utilized to help raise the level of play of a team or player. For the TWU Pioneers, they don’t need or want to change a thing.
Softball: Pioneers know what it will take
With TWU making its third NCAA regional appearance in the last four years this weekend, there will be plenty of postseason experience in the Pioneers’ dugout — from the head coach to the players.
Softball: TWU tapped to co-host NCAA regional
After winning their first Lone Star Conference tournament championship, the TWU Pioneers recieved an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. On Monday, TWU was selected to co-host the South Central Region tournament this weekend at Pioneer Field as the top seed.
Softball: Pioneers win first LSC tournament title
After winning their first Lone Star Conference title last week, the TWU Pioneers added to their trophy case on Sunday in Canyon by defeating West Texas A&M 7-2 to win their first LSC tournament championship.
Softball: TWU advances to final
CANYON — Katie Hines drove in three runs and picked up her 11th win in the circle to lead No. 6 TWU to a 10-7 win over Midwestern State in the Lone Star Conference tournament semifinals Saturday.
Softball: Hines lifts TWU in LSC tourney opener
CANYON — Katie Hines hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth Friday to lead No. 6 TWU to a 2-1 win over Cameron in the first round of the Lone Star Conference tournament.
Softball: Pioneers prepared to make deep run
It’s not often teams are trying to suppress the great memories so quickly, but for the Lone Star Conference champion TWU Pioneers, last week’s emotional roller coaster is in the past and they aren’t ready to have their potential deep postseason run get off to a rough start.
TWU notebook: Pioneers peaking as postseason begins
As TWU prepares for this weekend’s Lone Star Conference softball tournament, coach Richie Bruister says his team is peaking at the right time.
Softball: TWU wins final two games to take Lone Star title
With a multitude of school and individual records falling throughout a 43-win season, TWU has been hard-pressed to one-up each of its monumental moments, including several grand slams and walk-off home runs.
Softball: Lady Buffs take opener of title-deciding series
After the first game of a three-game series against West Texas A&M with the Lone Star Conference title on the line, TWU coach Richie Bruister said Friday’s tilt was starter Brandie Lander best performance of the season.
Softball: Angels take flight
The energy, compassion and emotion on display during Wednesday’s matchup between Tarleton State and TWU at Pioneer Field had many players, coaches and spectators near or in tears.
Softball: TWU’s Lander named Lone Star Conference pitcher of the week
TWU junior Brandie Lander has been named Lone Star Conference pitcher of the week for April 16-22. She earned the honor for the first time in her career.
Softball: Lone Star title on line for TWU in final series
As the regular season winds down to a final — and crucial — series at home this weekend for TWU, the outcome against West Texas A&M won’t diminish the record-setting season the Pioneers have enjoyed.
Former TWU pitcher Abby Burns dies
Surrounded by family members and dear friends, former TWU softball student-athlete Abby Burns died Monday evening from complications due to acute myeloid leukemia. She passed away at Medical City Hospital in Dallas at the age of 23.
Softball: Pioneers post 40th victory
SAN ANTONIO — Texas Woman’s University used a seven-run sixth inning to defeat Incarnate Word 12-2 in six innings Saturday. The Pioneers closed out their regular-season road schedule with a three-game sweep.
Softball: TWU takes two road games
SAN ANTONIO — TWU swept a doubleheader at Incarnate Word on Friday, winning 3-1 and 6-3 at Cardinals Field. The No. 10 Pioneers (39-11, 17-5 Lone Star) broke three single-season team records. TWU has scored 343 runs this season to break last year’s record of 338. The Pioneers’ 319 RBIs passed last season’s mark of 312. TWU hit six doubles Friday and has 91 on the season, breaking the record of 88 set by the 2002 team.
Softball research nets Vrazel scholar award
TWU shortstop Bailey Vrazel has been named a Chancellor’s Student Research Scholar by the Research Committee of the Graduate Council. She is the first athlete and kinesiology student to receive the honor at TWU.
Softball: TWU splits pair at Tarleton State
STEPHENVILLE — TWU split a doubleheader Tuesday at Tarleton State. The Pioneers dropped the first game 6-4 before winning 5-4 in nine innings.
TWU notebook: Pioneers facing busy stretch on diamond
With the No. 15 Pioneers facing six games over a seven-day stretch that began Tuesday, they will need more of the quality that was on display when TWU won two of three from Angelo State last weekend.
Gymnastics: Three Pioneers combine for two national championships
SHREVEPORT, La. — TWU gymnasts dominated the USA Gymnastics individual event finals Sunday with a three-way tie for the national title on vault and a co-championship on balance beam. The Pioneers also earned second- and third-place finishes on floor exercise and a fifth-place finish on bars.
Softball: Pioneers take series with split against Angelo State
In a see-saw Lone Star Conference doubleheader at Pioneer Field on Saturday, both TWU and Angelo State showed plenty of resolve when matching each other’s scoring spurts.
Gymnastics: Pioneers runner-up at national meet
The TWU gymnastics team scored a 194.800 to finish second for the fourth straight season at the team finals of the 2013 USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championships on Saturday night in Shreveport, La.
Softball: Pioneers knock off Rambelles
Bailey Vrazel’s quick feet, .417 batting average and visible poise as at the plate are a few reasons why Bailey Vrazel is the leadoff hitter for the first-place TWU Pioneers.
Gymnastics: TWU advances to team finals
SHREVEPORT, La. — TWU advanced to the team finals at the USA Gymnastics national meet Friday after winning the first semifinal session. The Pioneers posted a team score of 194.100 at Centenary’s Gold Dome.
Gymnastics: TWU to face feisty rival at nationals
It’s somewhat difficult to describe two schools as rivals when they are in different conferences, different states and 1,653 miles separate their campuses. Yet when it comes to gymnastics, TWU and the University of Bridgeport have become adversaries.
TWU notebook: Pioneers set for another tough series
With TWU coming off its most disappointing series of the season, the Pioneers’ schedule heats up even more this weekend when they host No. 23 Angelo State for a crucial three-game set.
Gymnastics: Edwards, Cochefski shine at regional
NORMAN, Okla. — Senior Kristin Edwards and junior Courtney Cochefski represented TWU at the NCAA regional meet Saturday with near-perfect performances at the Lloyd Noble Center.
Softball: TWU splits pair at MSU
WICHITA FALLS — Seventh-ranked TWU split a doubleheader at Midwestern State and set two school records in the process. The Pioneers cruised to a 15-1 victory in five innings before falling 14-13 in the eight-inning nightcap.
Softball: Midwestern State nips TWU in extra innings
WICHITA FALLS — Seventh-ranked TWU fell to Midwestern State 4-3 in eight innings Friday.
TWU Notebook: Cochefski, Edwards set for Norman regional
TWU’s two qualifiers for the NCAA South Central regional, Courtney Cochefski and Kristin Edwards, are different in terms of age, event and experience when it comes to this weekend’s meet in Norman, Okla.
Softball: TWU intensifies defense, sweeps Zias
TWU coach Richie Bruister was content with Thursday’s two wins over Eastern New Mexico, but his standards are high as the No. 8 Pioneers have their sights set on their third NCAA regional berth in four years.
Softball: Hines, Readicker power TWU past Zias
TWU’s Katie Hines was coming off an incredible weekend in the Pioneers’ sweep of Cameron on the road that earned her the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player of the Week honors.
Softball: Hines named national player of the week
The past week has been something special for TWU’s Katie Hines. The junior outfielder/pitcher from Beaumont led the No. 9 Pioneers to a three-game sweep of Cameron on Friday and Saturday, going 7-for-14 at the plate with five home runs, six runs and 13 RBIs.
TWU notebook: Pioneers answer call to ‘swing hard’
A simple philosophy paid explosive dividends last weekend for the TWU softball team, which followed coach Richie Bruister’s principles to a record-setting level. In his five years with the Pioneers, Bruister has instructed batters to “swing hard in case you hit it.” The humorous yet effective approach resulted in a huge weekend for the No. 9 Pioneers (30-7, 8-1 Lone Star) in a three-game conference sweep at Cameron.
Gymnastics: Gymnasts headed to NCAA regionals
TWU junior Courtney Cochefski and senior Kristin Edwards have been selected to compete in the 2013 NCAA gymnastics regional championships as individuals.
Softball: Vrazel breaks LSC career steals record in win
LAWTON, Okla. — Ninth-ranked TWU hit three home runs and broke two records in a 10-2 win at Cameron on Saturday. Junior Bailey Vrazel stole three bases to break the Lone Star Conference career steals record, and Katie Hines hit two home runs to set a new TWU single-season record. Vrazel has compiled 184 steals in less than three seasons and passed Kim Nichols of Southeastern Oklahoma State, who stole 182.
Gymnastics: TWU fourth at MIC meet
SHREVEPORT, La. — Courtney Cochefski tied for first on bars to lead TWU to a fourth-place finish at the Midwest Independent Conference championship meet Saturday night.
Softball: TWU sweeps twin bill at Cameron
LAWTON, Okla. — Ninth-ranked TWU swept a doubleheader at Cameron, 15-7 and 9-2, and broke two home run records Friday. The Pioneers hit nine home runs on the day.
Softball: Schedule rearranged for TWU’s weekend series at Cameron
With a threat of inclement weather this weekend in Lawton, Okla., No. 9 TWU’s three-game series at Cameron has been rearranged. The teams now will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and a single game at noon Saturday.
TWU notebook: Pioneers in for tight battle at MIC meet
TWU is in a crowd near the top of the Midwest Independent Conference gymnastics rankings, so the competition should be fierce this weekend at the league’s championship meet.
