The Temple College Leopards, ranked No. 10 in the latest NJCAA Division Top 25 poll, will begin North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference play on Thursday as they will host North Texas Junior College at the Danny Scott Sports Complex.
Doubleheader start time is 1 pm and can be seen on the Temple College PlaySight page, starting at 12:45 pm.
Temple (20-4) comes into conference play on an eight-game winning streak. The Leopards are hitting .396 with an on-base percentage of .453. TC has 47 doubles, 14 triples, 22 homers, 177 runs batted in, 201 runs scored, 255 hits, 65 walks drawn, 15 hit-by-pitches, and 86 stolen bases.
Seven of the Leopards' starters are hitting .400 or better, with four players over .500 in on-base percentage.
Lexi Dudeczka (.500 BA, .538 OBP, team-high 41 hits, six doubles, HR, 16 RBI, 12 SB, eight walks), Reese Cottrell (.449 BA, .538 OBP, ten doubles, four HR, 29 RBI, nine walks), Jasmine Benavides (.438 BA, .512 OBP, five triples, four HR, 29 RBI, 11 SB, nine walks), Brooklyn Walton (.404 BA, .411 OBP, HR, 11 RBI, eight SB), KyLeigh Cambiano (.400 BA, .460 OBP, ten RBI, 11 SB), and Marli Kennedy (.339 BA, .397 OBP, six doubles, two HR, ten RBI, 14 SB) are amongst the top-producing regular starters. Izzy Garcia (.545 BA, .567 OBP, three HR, 15 RBI) hits well in her starting pitching outings.
One thing underrated about the Leopards is their sharp defense. Through 24 games, Temple has committed just 15 errors in 552 opportunities (.974). The reduction of errors has helped Temple's pitching staff, with a staff earned run average of 2.66. In 150 innings pitched, the staff has allowed 70 runs (57 earned) on 115 hits, struck out 144 batters and walked 47. Opponents are hitting .203.
Garcia (9-1, 2.27 ERA, 74 strikeouts, 20 walks in 58 2/3 innings), Cottrell (5-1, 2.35 ERA, 24 strikeouts, 14 walks in 38 2/3 innings), Dalanee Ekster (2-0, eight strikeouts, seven walks in 23 innings), and Kat Kram (4-2, 3.78), 38 strikeouts, six walks in 29 2/3 innings) have been solid for the Leopards this season.
NCTC (11-12) comes into conference play hitting .297 with a .355 on-base percentage, has 45 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 113 runs batted in, 129 runs, 187 hits, 50 walks, 11 hit batters, and 12 stolen bases.
Olivia Martin (.459 BA, .492 OBP, five doubles, four HR, 21 RBI), Kayla Myatt (.329 BA, 373 OBP, nine doubles, HR, 16 RBI), and Miranda Serrato (.329 BA, .333 OBP, 11 doubles, two triples, 17 RBI) are the top three producers in the Lions' lineup.
NCTC has a staff ERA of 4.33, have allowed 127 runs (89 earned) on 189 hits, yielded 65 walks and struck out 88 batters in 144 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .294 against them.
Rylee Adams (6-5, 1.55 ERA, 45 strikeouts, 23 walks in 49 2/3 innings), Abriana Coy (1-1, 4.67 ERA, four strikeouts, two walks in 15 innings), Kadence Lampkin 2-3, 5.20 ERA, 22 strikeouts, 23 walks in 35 innings), Abby Wolf (1-1, 6.38 ERA, eight walks, seven strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings), and Carly Duggins (1-2 7.53 ERA, five walks, four strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings) have carried the weight of the staff this season.
Games three and four of the series will be played on Saturday in Gainesville.