April 16, 2009
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University student-athlete Arlynda Flores is already having a memorable season for the Rattler softball team; but Flores has a chance to make history this season as she is battling for the national lead in homeruns in NCAA Division II.
Flores (Jr., Uvalde) has smacked 21 homeruns in 42 games so far this season, which is second only to Sandy James of Angelo State University for total homeruns in NCAA Division II. Jessika Anastos of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Marti Littlefield of Valdosta State University are both just two homeruns shy of the national lead with 20 each. Stacie Chambers of the University of Arizona is the NCAA all divisions leader with 24 homeruns this season.
Flores’ numbers are starting to approach historic importance as well. The NCAA Division II record for homeruns in a single season is 28, set by Carmen Paez of Florida Gulf Coast University in 2007. Flores already has the 13th highest single season homerun total in NCAA Division II history. Flores has at least 11 games left this season to try to break the record, with the possibility of more if the Rattlers advance to the NCAA South Central Region Tournament.
Flores’ average of 0.50 homeruns per game this season ranks third in the nation, behind Anastos (0.61) and James (0.51). The NCAA single-season record for homeruns per game is 0.52, set by Crystal Krebs of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs during the 2005 season.
Already Flores has the second highest single-season total in St. Mary’s school history. Elizabeth Beyer smacked 24 homeruns during the 2005 season. Flores is also scoring big off the field. She is an Honor Roll student in exercise and sports science, with a 3.67 grade point average. Flores is currently batting .387 with 10 doubles, 21 homeruns, 55 RBI and 44 runs scored. She is 10-11 with a 5.00 ERA, nine complete games, two shutouts and 66 strikeouts in 153.0 innings of work this season. She is fourth in the Heartland Conference in batting average, fourth in hits (60), first in RBI, first in homeruns and is second in runs scored.
Flores and the Rattlers (25-26 overall, 16-4 Heartland Conference) return to action this afternoon when they face the University of Central Oklahoma in a single game in Edmond, Okla. The Rattlers will then face Lincoln University in a four-game Heartland Conference series this weekend in Jefferson City, Mo.