SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State softball team starts their 2023 season this weekend at the Scrap Yards Sports complex in Conroe, Texas, as they compete in the Division II Spring Invitational Kickoff. The weekend will see the Rambelles play in six games over three days, facing two teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season and one ranked opponent.

Last season, the Rambelles went 39-12 and made their 16^th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

The Rambelles return seven of their nine starters from last season's lineup and return both of their starting pitchers.

Most notable among the returners is All-American Paxton Scheurer at third base. The senior was named the Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year last week, and last season, she hit 23 home runs and drove in 72 runs as she was named the conference's player and academic player of the year.

Also returning for the Rambelles are all-region performers in Ashlyn Lerma and Genesis Armendariz. Lerma stole 51 bases and recorded a .489 on-base percentage, while Armendariz went 19-7 with a 2.38 ERA.

The Rambelles start their weekend with a ranked matchup, facing eighth-ranked Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos went 48-13 a season ago and made the Central Region Super Regional before being eliminated by eventual national champions Rogers State. The Rambelles close Friday by facing Arkansas Tech; the Golden Suns went 40-19 last season and made it to the NCAA Tournament.

In their matchup last season, the Rambelles run-ruled the Golden Suns 11-1 in five innings, with the Rambelles scoring all their runs on five home runs. That game saw Scheurer homer twice and Madison Fernandez homer, while Armendariz struck out five batters in five innings.

Saturday afternoon will see the Rambelles take on Regis and Cal Poly Humboldt before they close their weekend on Sunday against Pittsburg State and MSU Denver.