SB: Mavs head into offseason with momentum for 2016
5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington softball heads into the summer break with momentum after a record-breaking 2015 season.
The Mavericks won 27 games, the most under third-year coach Kristie Fox, before falling in the Sun Belt Championship first round to ULM. Despite not advancing in the tournament, Fox believes this season will be remembered as a building block for future success.
"We had a lot of growth and are continuing to build on our foundation that we set," Fox said. "I think the girls look back on the season and look at it positively. They know we have a lot of work to do, but they are excited about it."
UTA set new offensive records in batting average (.316), runs (338), RBI (316), hits (456) and walks (226). A hot start to the year helped the team reach the NCAA Division I top 25 in several offensive statistics during the season, as well as achieve individual national marks and team highs.
Senior Nina Villanueva ended with the second-best batting average (.408) in single-season history and the all-time runs mark at 52 runs scored. She was ranked 20th in the nation in on-base percentage at .550, a Sun Belt high.
Junior Mya Anderson is tied for second in single-season history with 13 home runs, with senior Meagan Michele sitting fourth with 12 home runs. Sophomore Shelbi Sikes finished with the single-season record for RBI with 45.
Freshman Sandra Mendoza went head-to-head with Villanueva for the team-high in runs, finishing with 51. Mendoza said that the record chase was a lot of fun for the team, and something that helped the Mavs focus more at the plate.
"We all had confidence in our at-bats," Mendoza said. "We could have executed a little bit more when we had people on, but overall we had a lot of fun. It was fun for me in my freshman year."
Fox looks at Mendoza as a leader heading into the fall for team losing the left side of the infield with Villanueva and Michele's departure. Mendoza is taking everything that she can from the pair to help her fill that roll.
"They're competitiveness was awesome, that is what I am going to miss about them the most," Mendoza added. "Playing with them was always so much fun."
For the pitching staff, two sophomores and two freshmen made up a group that came together in the fall and gained experience as the season went along.
Sophomore Sam Montes became a regular in the starting rotation and earned two Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week awards during the season. She completed her first-career no-hitter against Central Arkansas in April.
"We did great," Montes said. "From the beginning of the fall we have grown a lot. Coach (Camden Decker) helped us a lot and you could see that towards the end of the year."
Montes led the pitching staff with 38 appearances (30 starts), while accumulating a 4.56 ERA. She had team highs in innings pitched and strikeouts.
Montes plans on spending her summer preparing for the 2016 season. She added that she has a focus on improving her stamina and speed, while trying to add a pitch to her arsenal.
Fox expects competition across the board for spots in next year's starting lineup.
"I am just really excited about the competition we are going to have every day in the fall," Fox said. "Every spot is up for grabs and we will see who works hard over the summer and wants those spots."
Adding to the position battles, the 2015 signing class will mean more competition next season.
"We are excited that we have a couple of pitchers coming in that will help our pitching staff and push the ones that we have already," Fox said. "We will have some speed. The dynamic of this team will change a bit and I am excited about that competition in the fall."
