AUSTIN, Texas – In the early stages of a softball season coaches often move players around on the field and in the batting order looking for the best combination.

Lipscomb coach Kristin Ryman has a lot of  playing pieces to work with this season. She and her staff are seeing the early games as a puzzle to still be completed.

The Texas Invitational offers opportunities this weekend as the Lady Bisons face No. 4 Texas from the Big 12, Duke from the ACC, Weber State from the  Big Sky Conference and  North Dakota State from the Summit League.

Texas Invitational: 

Feb. 21 | Texas | 9 a.m. |Livestream

Feb. 21 | Duke | 2 p.m. | Livestream

Feb. 22 | Weber State | 11:30 a.m. | Livestream

Feb. 22 | Texas | 5 p.m. | Livestream

Feb. 23 | North Dakota State | 10 a.m. | Livestream

All Weekend Live Stats Link

“The goal for our team is to go down there and find ways to get better,” Ryman said. “We have to push the envelope and compete and not shy away from challenges and tough opportunities.

“We have to be in attack mode and find a way to get some wins. Anytime you play a tournament where all five teams are regional-type teams it is like a giant puzzle where you are trying to pull the right strings and make the right moves.”

The Lady Bisons, 5-3, open the Texas Invitational Friday against host Texas, 11-0, at 9 a.m. Friday afternoon at 2 Lipscomb will face Duke with a 9-2 record. Duke enters the weekend with a six-game winning streak. The Lady Bisons have lost their last two games.All games in the invitational are being played at Red and Charline McCombs  Field.

“All the way around it is going to be a very tough weekend,” Ryman said. “Texas is No. 4 in one poll and No. 2 in another.

“They hit extremely well, and they definitely pitch well. They run the bases. They put pressure on the defense. They can hit the long ball. They do everything  well.”

Duke is only in its third year as a softball program, but they are making an impact.

“They are off to a good start this year,” Ryman said. “They are pitching well. They have really good athletes. I would anticipate they are going to be the best they have been since the program began.”

 Much of the work this week has centered on the offensive portion of the game. Ryman has seen improvement from week one to week two and she her hitters continue to get better.

“You have to know your own swing,” Ryman said. “The way the ball comes off your bat is going to tell you something. The greatest hitters can adjust from swing to swing.

“We are going to face four very good teams this weekend and we can’t prepare for all of them. We prepare for what we can. We also have to get ourselves ready and what we need to work on…what we know we can get better at each week.”

AROUND THE BASES:

• Three Lady Bisons – Peyton Ward, Caitlin Turner and Amy Vetula – carry three-game hitting streaks into the weekend.
• Peyton Ward has reached base in the last five games. Vetula has been on base in each of the last three games.
• The Lady Bisons have never faced Duke or Weber State. They are 1-0 against North Dakota State.
• Lipscomb is 0-1 against the Longhorns. Texas won 5-0 last year at Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium 5-0.