Texas A&M–Commerce Lions
softball
2024 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions softball team
Founded2015
UniversityTexas A&M University–Commerce
Head coachBrittany Miller (1st season)
ConferenceSouthland
LocationCommerce, TX
Home stadiumJohn Cain Family Softball Complex (Capacity: 800)
NicknameLions
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
2016*, 2018*, 2019*, 2021*, 2022*
Conference Tournament championships
2022**at Division II level
For information on all Texas A&M University–Commerce sports, see Texas A&M–Commerce Lions

The Texas A&M–Commerce Lions softball team is the intercollegiate softball program representing Texas A&M University–Commerce. The school competes in the Southland Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For their first eight years of existence, they competed in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) in Division II. The A&M–Commerce softball team plays its home games at John Cain Family Softball Complex on the university campus in Commerce, Texas. The team is currently coached by Brittany Miller.

History

The 2015 A&M–Commerce Lions softball team in action against St. Edward's University

Softball has been a varsity sport at A&M–Commerce since the 2015 season.[2] The program was first announced in May 2013, making it both the seventh women's sport to be offered by the university and making A&M–Commerce the last school in the LSC to sponsor softball.[3] According to then-athletic director Ryan Ivey, the university's decision to add softball was due to its rising popularity and the growing talent pool of players in Northeast Texas, as well as to help A&M–Commerce meet Title IX requirements.[4]

From 2015 to 2021, the team was coached by Richie Bruister, previously the head softball coach at Henderson State University and Texas Woman's University.[5][6] Bruister compiled a record of 183–97 (.654), four LSC Championship appearances, and three NCAA tournament appearances in five years with TWU; he also won both the LSC and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards in 2013.[6]

In its inaugural 2015 season, the Lions achieved an overall record of 29–24 (.547),[7] finishing sixth in the regular-season LSC standings[8] and reaching the quarterfinals of the conference tournament before being eliminated.[9] Other achievements during the program's first season included Tyler Oppenheim's recognition as an LSC Player of the Week and the team's average GPA of 3.536, the highest in the conference.[4] Also in 2015, the A&M–Commerce softball team hosted the inaugural Lion Classic, a four-team tournament that included Northeastern State University, Southern Nazarene University, and Tarleton State University.[10]

After seven seasons, Bruister left A&M-Commerce, having compiled an overall record of 231-114. His associate head coach, Gay McNutt, was subsequently promoted to interim head coach. In their final season in the Lone Star Conference before moving up to Division I, McNutt guided the Lions to their first and only Lone Star Conference Tournament victory[11] before eventually falling in the Regional Tournament against the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas.[12]

Following the season, McNutt resigned to take over the head coaching position at Texas Woman's University on June 9, 2022.[13] On June 24, 2022, Brittany Miller was hired as the third head coach in program history.[14]

On August 3, 2022, Miller added three-time Olympic gold medalist Crystl Bustos to the coaching staff as an assistant coach.[15]

In the Lions' first Division I season, they endured their first overall losing season in program history, finishing 9-39 overall and 5-19 in conference play. This would be their first time having a losing season in conference play since their inaugural season in 2015.[16]

All-time record

Year Head Coach Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. Place Tourn. Postseason
2015 Richie Bruister 29–24 .547 12–14 .462 6th First Round –
2016 37-19 .661 18-14 .563 3rd First Round Regional Tournament
2017 34-20 .630 16-14 .533 6th First Round –
2018 42-12 .778 23-7 .767 4th Semifinals Regional Champions
2019 40-14 .741 23-7 .767 2nd Semifinals Regional Runner-Up
2020 16-7 .696 5-3 .625 T4th – –
2021 33-18 .647 21-9 .700 4th First Round Regional Runner-Up
2022 Gay McNutt 43-15 .741 22-8 .733 T4th Champions Regional Tournament
2023 Brittany Miller 9-39 .188 5-19 .357 9th — —

Year-by-year results through the end of the 2023 season[6][7][9]

Stadium

John Cain Family Softball Complex
LocationOn Hubbell Dr
Commerce, Texas
Coordinates33°14′22.3″N 95°54′57.3″W / 33.239528°N 95.915917°W / 33.239528; -95.915917
OwnerTexas A&M University–Commerce
OperatorTexas A&M University–Commerce
Capacity800 (not including berm seating)
Field sizeLeft Field: 190 ft
Center Field: 220 ft
Right Field: 190 ft
SurfaceTurf
ScoreboardElectronic
Construction
Built2014–15
OpenedFebruary 1, 2015
Tenants
Texas A&M–Commerce Lions softball (NCAA) (2015–Present)

The Lions softball team has played at John Cain Family Softball Complex since its first game, on February 1, 2015, against St. Edward's University. The stadium seats 800 spectators in both general admission and reserved seating, not including its extra capacity for standing-room-only spectators and those watching the game from the center-field picnic berm. The outfield fence is 190 feet (58 m) from home plate along each foul line and 220 feet (67 m) from the plate at center field. The playing surface is artificial turf, featuring an atypically blue-colored infield and a large A&M–Commerce lion logo in center field. John Cain Family Softball Field also features home and visitor in-ground dugouts, bullpens for both teams, and three batting cages.[2] As of October 2015, the softball program is raising funds to add an indoor batting facility on the grounds of the stadium.[17]

2019 and 2021 NCAA Division II South Central Regional tournament games were held at the stadium.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ "Logo Downloads - Texas A&M University-Commerce". Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "John Cain Family Softball Field". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ "A&M-Commerce to add Softball; First Pitch Slated for Spring 2015". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. May 20, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Whitlock, Bailey (December 4, 2015). "Lion's Softball Ready to Play in Second Season". The East Texan. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ Welch, Cooper (July 17, 2013). "Bruister to be first A&M-Commerce softball coach". KETR. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "2015 Softball Coaching Staff". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "2015 Softball Cumulative Statistics". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "2015 Softball Standings". Lone Star Conference. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "No. 3 seed Tarleton State Tops No. 6 seed A&M-Commerce in Walk-off Fashion". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. May 1, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Softball to host inaugural Lion Classic Tournament Friday and Saturday". KETR. February 6, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  11. ↑ "LSC Tourney Champs! Lions beat Javelinas, 9-2, for first LSC Tournament title". LionsAthletics.com. May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Lions' historic season comes to a close with a 1-0 loss to the Javelinas". LionsAthletics.com. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Gay McNutt steps down as Texas A&M University-Commerce Softball coach". LionAthletics.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Texas A&M University-Commerce announces Brittany Miller as head softball coach". LionAthletics.com. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Crystl Bustos hired as Texas A&M University-Commerce Assistant Softball coach". LionAthletics.com. August 3, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ "2023 Softball Schedule". LionAthletics.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Lion Softball Moves HR Derby Fundraiser to Oct. 30". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. October 20, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  18. ↑ Wayne Cavadi (May 21, 2019). "2019 DII softball tournament: Brackets, schedules, scores". NCAA.org. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Field set for 2021 DII Softball Championship". National Fastpitch Coaches Association. May 17, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2022.

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