(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
The Missouri Southern softball team gets set for the first conference series of the year and its home opener against Washburn University on Friday at 2:00 pm and then another double-header at noon on Saturday in a battle with Emporia State inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex after starting the season 8-11 on the road.
Southern completed a 4-0 sweep in two days last weekend with three-straight shutouts and outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 12-1.
Live stats will be available during every Softball home game on MSSU's campus, including this weekend (March 9-10) throughout both double headers.
MSSU retained ten players from a season ago and added four freshmen and three transfers to build off what the Lions put together in a memorable 2017 campaign.
The Rundown
Friday
Washburn
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
Saturday
Emporia State
Noon
2:00 pm
Stream: None
Radio: None
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/mssu/softball/
Beauty and Strength of the Pride
Four All-MIAA selections return from last year's squad:
first-team senior outfielder Abi Corbett who led the MIAA in batting average (.438), at bats (224), hits (98, and stolen bases, to go along with second in on-base percentage (.457), runs scored (57), and tied for fourth in triples (4),
second-team senior utility player Shelby Friend in the role of a designated player
honorable mention recipient's junior catcher Angel Badalamenti and sophomore outfielder Elizabeth Windsor both received honorable mention after both batted over .300 and finished fourth and fifth on the team in fielding percentage (.987 & .976
Launched into the top-5 of different categories on its run to the MIAA tournament by finishing the 2017 season second in the MIAA in batting average (.313) and hits (512), third in put outs (1179), and fourth in on-base percentage (.368), runs scored (263), RBIs (237), and total bases (664).
Ranked opponents on the Schedule: No. 7 Southern Arkansas, No. 8 Winona State,
No. 9 Minnesota State, No. 11 Texas A&M Commerce, No. 21 Cameron, and MIAA pre-season leader Central Oklahoma receiving 23 votes, while defeating Missouri-St. Louis when it was No. 14.
Recorded three-straight shutouts for the first time since 2001 within its 4-0 sweep over the weekend.
Leading the Hunt (current stats)
Batting Average: Abi Corbett (.412)
Hits: Abi Corbett (28)
Doubles: Erika Lutgen (8)
Triples: Lexi Ferrari and Abi Corbett (1)
Home Runs: Erika Lutgen (3)
RBI: Erika Lutgen (10)
Stolen Bases: Abi Corbett (12)
ERA: Natalie Hamm (2.92)
Wins: Taurean Guzman (4)
Strikeouts: Abby Atkin (35)
Shutouts: Abby Atkin and Taurean Guzman (2)
Fewest Walks Allowed: Mikaela Cox (1)
Opponent Batting Avg: Natalie Hamm (.187)
What the Opponents are Bringing to the Battle!
Washburn Ichabods (13-6, 1-1)
Series: MSSU leads, 42-38
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association ... Ninth (25-30 overall / 12-14 MIAA) ... missed out on the final spot in the 2017 conference tournament after ending the season on a two-game winning streak ... picked to finish tenth in the conference pre-season poll ... return two of three All-MIAA recipients (both honorable mention), including pitcher Kelsee Henry and third baseman Savannah Moore ... lost a first-team performer as a designated hitter (Erica Harper) ... went 1-1 against the Lions with a 8-6 victory in the second game Tafter dropping a 11th-inning showdown in game one at Topeka ... won the MIAA championship 2002 ... Ichabods' head coach Brenda Holaday is looking to lead WU to its first winning season under her leadership (2nd season).
Emporia State Hornets (7-12, 0-2)
Series: MSSU leads, 38-36
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association ... Eighth (34-26 overall / 15-11 MIAA) ... finished as the runner-up in the MIAA tournament to Central Oklahoma after clinching the final spot into the tournament and winning four-straight games to escape elimination heading toward the Championship game ... chosen to end the season in a tied for sixth with Missouri Southern in the preseason poll ... return two of five All-MIAA members ( both honorable mention), including third baseman Hailey Cope and outfielder Caitlin VanVlec ... lost a pitcher-catcher combination in Eryn Stockman and Jacie Stephens who both earned second-team honors as well as a honorable mention honoree in shortstop Sarah Glass ... returns six starters out of nine total retained from last season ... enters the game having won two of its last ten games (all at home) ... outscored the Lions 12-2 in two wins during the 2017 regular-season and then defeated them by seven runs to eliminate Southern from the MIAA tournament ... leads the conference with nine tournament titles, including seven seasons in a row (1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012) ... head coach April Rosales enters her third season with a record of 62-70 record and a winning record over five of 13 teams in the conference.
NFCA Coaches Poll
RANK SCHOOL POINTS RECORD PREVIOUS
1 Colorado Mesa (8) 389 18-0 3
2 North Georgia (9) 385 24-1 2
3 Dixie State (1) 378 18-0 4
4 Angelo State 349 19-1 5
5 Chico State 323 18-1 7
6 North Alabama 313 15-2 11
7 Southern Arkansas 310 16-2 12
8 Winona State 264 11-2 19
9 Minnesota State 252 11-2 1
10 Saint Leo 220 14-6 8
11 Texas A&M Commerce 214 15-2 21
12 Lenoir-Rhyne 203 15-4 15
13 Palm Beach Atlantic 190 13-2 17
14 Southern Indiana 189 9-5 13
t15 Sonoma State 183 14-6 16
t15 West Texas A&M 183 13-3 9
17 Harding 182 11-3 10
18 Valdosta State 102 17-4 23
19 Concordia Irvine 99 7-4 20
20 Indianapolis 78 10-4 NR
21 Cameron 69 15-5 18
t22 Merrimack 62 5-1 22
t22 Queens 62 18-3 25
24 West Florida 54 11-8 14
25 UC San Diego 41 15-4 NR
Receiving Votes: Central Oklahoma (23), California Baptist (19), Coker (17), Saginaw Valley State (16), Molloy (10), Tarleton State (8), Embry Riddle (6), West Chester (4), Arkansas Tech (2), UAH (1).
MIAA Teams and 2017-18 opponents in Bold; Central Region Teams Italicized.
Next Stretch
The Lions take a week to prepare for a 10-game road extravaganza to the home of the Missouri Western Griffons in St. Joseph, Missouri where they face off against their last six non-conference competitors of 2018 in No. 9 Minnesota State University - Mankato, Augustana, Northern State, Concordia - St. Paul, University of Mary, and No. 8 Winona State as part of the HY-VEE Classic with the first game to begin at noon on Friday, March 16.
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