TAMUC – Sports

 

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Obst, McKee, Clark, and Svaerd shine in the opening day of NCAA Championships.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A solid first day of action saw a Texas A&M University-Commerce school record fall and two quarter-milers and a hurdler advance to the finals in the opening day of work at the 2018 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Johnson C. Smith University’s Irwin Belk Complex on Thursday.

Women’s 400-meter runner Kamryn McKee cut nearly half of a second off her school record and qualified as the third seed with a time of 54.27 seconds. McKee’s record time had stood for three years.

Men’s 400-meter runner Rashard Clark qualified for the finals with a time of 46.92 seconds, easing to a victory in his heat. He has the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the event.

Women’s 400-meter hurdler Minna Svaerd closed out the evening’s action with a heat victory in a time of 59.97 seconds. She will carry the sixth-fastest qualifying time into Saturday’s final

Decathlete Florian Obst holds a commanding first day lead with 4,191 points, a margin of 372 points over his nearest competitor. Obst had the top mark in three of Thursday’s five events, claiming high points in the 100-meter dash (10.73 seconds, 922 points), long jump (7.23m, 23-8 ¾, 869 points), and shot put (15.25m, 50-0 ½, 805 points). He was also second-fastest in the 400-meter dash (48.40 seconds, 890 points).

Obst is on pace for one of the top decathlon scores in Division II history with the 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1,500-meter run remaining.

Action resumes Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. in Charlotte with the decathlon 110-meter hurdles.

FRIDAY SCHEDULE – All Times Eastern
9:30 a.m. – Florian Obst – Decathlon 110-meter hurdles
4:45 p.m. – Jasmine Roberts – Women’s Triple Jump
5:35 p.m. – Rashard Clark and Malcolm Woods – Men’s 200-meter dash prelims
5:45 p.m. – Markie Abbott and Chelsea Cheek – Women’s High Jump
7:50 p.m. – Men’s 4×400 meter relay prelims
8:10 p.m. – Women’s 4×400 meter relay prelims

SOFTBALL

Mariah Jameyson named Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year, Kinsie Hebler also named NFCA First Team All-American.

SALEM, Va.– Texas A&M University-Commerce softball players Mariah Jameyson and Kinsie Hebler were both named First Team All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Wednesday. Also, Jameyson was named the Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year. The annual NFCA awards banquet made the announcement.

“They are the most feared duo in Division II softball,” said A&M-Commerce head softball coach Richie Bruister of his three and four-hole hitters. “Both of them were always early and stayed late working hard to be the best and to make their team better. Ciera [Nunez] and Baylea [Higgs] set the table for them, and they knew how to get the job done. I can’t be any prouder of these two.”

Jameyson– a senior from Seattle, Wash.– adds to her mountain of awards from the 2018 season. She was named Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association National Player of the Year as well as a D2CCA First Team All-American. She was also named D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Region selection by both the D2CCA and the NFCA. Jameyson was named Lone Star Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection. She was twice named NFCA National Player of the Week and also was named Fastpitch News National Player of the Week. Jameyson is currently also a top-10 finalist for NFCA National Player of the Year.

Jameyson finished the regular season as the nation’s leader in on-base percentage, was second in batting average, slugging percentage and RBIs, third in total bases, fourth in walks and fifth in home runs. Jameyson’s batting average was nearly .100 points better than any other player in the LSC. Jameyson also had an on-base percentage more than .100 points higher than any other LSC player. She was also the only hitter in the LSC to finish the season with a slugging percentage over 1.000. Jameyson led the LSC in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBIs, hits, and walks. She has had the game-winning RBI in 14 different games this season.

“It is hard to put into words the year she had,” Bruister said of Jameyson. “With everything she had to go through this year, I am so proud of her drive to be the best. She is the definition of the word ‘champion’. She will always be able to say she was the best in the country. She set the example for our team and for future players to strive to be. It was an honor and privilege to be able to coach a talent like Mariah.”

Hebler– a sophomore from Cypress– also adds to her hardware from the season. She was also named a First Team All-American by the D2CCA and was a First Team All-Region selection by both the D2CCA and the NFCA. For the second consecutive year, she was a First Team All-LSC selection. Hebler was a force offensively for the Lions all season. She hit .413 with a .505 on-base percentage and a .844 slugging percentage. She drove in 73 RBIs and finished the season with 19 homers. In the Lions’ postseason run, she had two grand slams and 17 RBIs. She finished third in the nation in RBIs, sixth in home runs and 10th in both slugging percentage and total bases. Hebler was named Fastpitch News National Player of the Week and was an NFCA top-25 finalist for National Player of the Year. She had the game-winning RBI in 13 different games this season.

“It is an amazing accomplishment for anyone, but for a sophomore, it is remarkable,” Bruister said of Hebler. “Kinsie has worked hard from day one, and it is great to see the hard work pay off and deserved. We are looking forward to building another powerful offense around her next year.”

Jameyson and Hebler helped lead the Lions to the greatest season in school history. The team finished with a record 42 wins and advanced to the South Central Super Regional Championship for the first time in school history, winning the South Central Region I Championship along the way.

 

FOOTBALL

National Champion Lions add 11th game to 2018 schedule.

COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce football program has announced the addition of an 11th game in the 2018 season and a subsequent schedule change for the National Champion Lions. This addition gives the Lions a full slate of 11 NCAA Division II opponents for the first time since the 2010 season.

The Lions have added Lock Haven (Pa.) University to the schedule, welcoming the Bald Eagles to Commerce on Saturday, September 29, for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium. It will be the first meeting in football between the Lions and any school from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

As such, the Lions will now open the season on Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium with a Lone Star Conference matchup against perennial rival Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Chennault Cup game will be Thursday, August 30, at 7:00 p.m. The long-time combatants mutually agreed to move the game to the opening weekend of the Division II season.

TICKETS
Season ticket prices will remain the same from the initially announced pricing structure. Fans who have already purchased season tickets will be contacted in regards to added values to reward their early purchase.

Chairback seats are still available in Sections C and E for $80. General admission seating is available for $65 for the season. Season tickets are available online at WeAreLionsTix.com or by calling Lion Sales and Service at (903) 468-8756.

All chairback season ticket holders are encouraged to consider philanthropic support of our 424 talented student-athletes with a gift to the Lion Champions Fund. For information on the LCF, please contact Taylor Phelps at (903) 886-5554.

Information on single-game tickets released in June.

UPDATED 2018 LION FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (dates and times subject to change)

Date	Opponent	Site	Time
Aug. 30	TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE * Student Appreciation Night	COMMERCE	7 p.m.
Sept. 8	at William Jewell	Liberty, Mo.	Noon
Sept. 15	at Eastern New Mexico *	Portales, N.M.	7 p.m. MDT (8 p.m CDT)
Sept. 22	COLORADO STATE-PUEBLO CommUniverCity Day	COMMERCE	6 p.m.
Sept. 29	LOCK HAVEN Hall of Fame Day	COMMERCE	6 p.m.
Oct. 6	at Midwestern State *	Wichita Falls	7 p.m.
Oct. 13	TARLETON STATE * Youth Sports Day	COMMERCE	4 p.m.
Oct. 20	at Western New Mexico *	Silver City, N.M.	Noon MDT (1 p.m. CDT)
Oct. 27	WEST TEXAS A&M * Homecoming	COMMERCE	4 p.m.
Nov. 3	at UT Permian Basin *	Odessa
Nov. 10	ANGELO STATE * Military Appreciation Day/Senior Day	COMMERCE	4 p.m.

SOFTBALL

 

Mariah Jameyson named D2CCA Ron Lenz Player of the Year, Kinsie Hebler also named First Team All-American.

ROLLA, Mo.– Texas A&M University-Commerce softball players Mariah Jameyson and Kinsie Hebler made program history on Wednesday. Both players were named First Team All-Americans by the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association, the first two players in team history to receive First Team All-American status. Also, Jameyson became the first player in program history to be named the D2CCA Ron Lenz National Player of the Year.

Jameyson– a senior from Seattle, Wash.– adds to her mountain of awards from the 2018 season. She was named D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Region selection by both the D2CCA and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Jameyson was named Lone Star Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection. She was twice named NFCA National Player of the Week and also was named Fastpitch News National Player of the Week. Jameyson is currently also a top-10 finalist for NFCA National Player of the Year.

Jameyson finished the regular season as the nation’s leader in on-base percentage, was second in batting average, slugging percentage and RBIs, third in total bases, fourth in walks and fifth in home runs. Jameyson’s batting average was nearly .100 points better than any other player in the LSC. Jameyson also had an on-base percentage more than .100 points higher than any other LSC player. She was also the only hitter in the LSC to finish the season with a slugging percentage over 1.000. Jameyson led the LSC in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBIs, hits, and walks. She has had the game-winning RBI in 14 different games this season.

Hebler– a sophomore from Cypress– also adds to her hardware from the season. She was a First Team All-Region selection by both the D2CCA and the NFCA and was a First Team All-LSC selection. Hebler was a force offensively for the Lions all season. She hit .413 with a .505 on-base percentage and a .844 slugging percentage. She drove in 73 RBIs and finished the season with 19 homers. In the Lions’ postseason run, she had two grand slams and 17 RBIs. She finished third in the nation in RBIs, sixth in home runs and 10th in both slugging percentage and total bases. Hebler was named Fastpitch News National Player of the Week and was an NFCA top-25 finalist for National Player of the Year. She had the game-winning RBI in 13 different games this season.

Jameyson and Hebler helped lead the Lions to the greatest season in school history. The team finished with a record 42 wins and advanced to the South Central Super Regional Championship for the first time in school history after winning the South Central Region I Championship.