SAN ANGELO – The No. 6 Angelo State softball team will begin its quest for the program's second national title on Thursday, May 24 at 1:30 p.m. EST / 12:30 p.m. CST against West Chester in its first game of the Division II College Softball World Series in Salem, Virginia.

The Rambelles (52-7) won their second straight South Central Regional and are a combined 112-14 over the last two seasons. It is the sixth trip (2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018) to the Division II College Softball World Series under head coach Travis Scott. With a win, ASU will face the winner of North Georgia and Southern Indiana at 11 a.m. EST / 10 a.m. CST on Friday while the two losing teams will play at 4 p.m. EST / 3 p.m. CST.

ASU is 24-4 away from the friendly confines of Mayer Field and has a season long win streak of 23 earlier this season. Angelo State has a .332 average on the year and scores 7.08 runs per game. The pitching staff has a 1.95 earned run average and limits teams to a .220 batting average. The Rambelles have used quick starts scoring a combined 178 runs in the first and second innings this season.

The pitching duo of Morgan Hill and Brandy Marlett have excelled in the circle. Hill is 26-4 with two saves and a 1.62 ERA. She has struck out 145 batters and only allowed 48 runs on the season. She has thrown 10 complete games and helped the staff throw a combined 20 shutouts. Teams are only hitting .209 off the Salado native. Marlett, a NFCA and D2CCA first team All-Region selection, is 24-3 with two saves and a 1.85 ERA. She has thrown 174.0 innings and struck out 188. She has given up 53 runs and limits opponents to a .204 average. She has 13 complete games and six shutouts. Hill and Marlett went 3-1 last year in Salem. They combined for 21 strikeouts 32.0 innings pitched.  Megan Hill and Makayla Corbin have provided depth combining for a 2-0 record and two saves in 15 appearances.

The offense is led by Taegan Kirk. The junior is first on the team in average (.420), doubles (19), RBIs (66) and slugging (.773). She had a game tying three-run home run in the first game of the Division II Super Regionals that helped Angelo State battle back to win game one. The catcher has been outstanding behind the plate throwing out 14 baserunners and only allowing 14 steals. At the plate, she has added 15 home runs while scoring 43 runs.

Madison Greenwell, the ASU career leader in hits, is tops on the team in the category with 79 on the year. She has nine doubles, three triples and three home runs. The Flower Mound native is second on the team in runs scored with 53 and stolen bases with 26. She has a .373 average and has driven in 39 RBIs.

Bailey Wallace, a first team NFCA and D2CCA All-Region selection, has a .368 average with 63 hits, 10 doubles and four home runs. She is the team leader with 54 runs scored while driving in 40. She has been hit by a pitch 20 times this season and has 85 for her career. Wallace is only eight HBP away from setting the national career leader. The Rockwall native has stolen 13 bases while driving in 40 RBIs.

Taylor Fogle has come on as of late with 43 hits and a .333 average. She has added 10 doubles and nine home runs. She has scored 24 times while driving in 37 on the year. The California native has drawn 21 walks on the year.

Danae Bina is hitting .326 on the year with 47 hits, six doubles, four triples and two home runs. She is five players on the team with at least one single, one double, one triple and one home run. The Kansas native has stolen 28 bases on the year and drawn 18 walks. She has scored 42 runs, including the game winner in the bottom of the eighth in game one of the South Central Super Regional.

Karina Rocha has provided power this season with a team-high 18 home runs. The sophomore has a .324 average and is tops on the team with 35 walks. She has 48 hits with 12 doubles. She also has driven in the second most RBIs with 56 while scoring 36 runs. The Buda native is only behind Kirk in slugging percentage at .770.

Courtney Barnhill has a .316 average on the year with 43 hits, six doubles, one triple and 15 home runs. The sophomore has the second most walks with 30 and has crossed the plate 39 times. She is third on the team with a .706 slugging percentage. 

Brooke Mangold was able to hit a two-run home run at her final at-bat at Mayer Field in the deciding game of the South Central Super Regional. The senior has a 31 hits on the year with two doubles, two triple and two home runs. She has scored 35 runs while also stealing 23 bases.

Mykayla Stroud has 26 hits in 43 starts at third base this season. The freshman has three doubles, three home runs and nine stolen bases on the year. She has scored 20 runs and driven in 17 on the year. 

Other Rambelles that have provided depth this season include Jacqeline Montejano, Jade Strother, Heather Reatherford, Amanda Ramage, Mylonee Becerra and Megan Gordon.  

The games will be carried locally on KOOL 100.1 with Jeremy Bryant on the call.