The Missouri Southern softball team travels to Bentonville, Arkansas to open the 2019 season against Ouachita Baptist and Midwestern Sate tomorrow on the grounds of Memorial Park as part of the UAM Division II Softball Challenge beginning at noon.
Due to inclement weather expected to hit on Sunday, the Lions scheduled contests against Arkansas-Monticello and Arkansas Tech have been canceled.
The Lions enter the 2019 season under first-year head coach Hallie Blackney way of Division I George Washington University with two All-MIAA recipients in sophomore Picher Natalie Hamm and infielder Erika Lutgen back as well as 11 other returners that saw valuable time in the lineup from week to week during the 2018 season.
This stretch will set the Lions up for an interesting schedule down the line that includes facing two teams in the NFCA preseason Top-25 with No. 2 Southern Arkansas (Feb. 15) and No. 15 Winona State (Mar. 23) among other competitive matchups out of the Great American, Great Lakes Valley, Gulf South, and Northern Sun Conferences before the start of the MIAA play against Pittsburg State (Mar. 8).
The Rundown
Saturday
12:00 pm against Ouachita Baptist
2:00 pm against Midwestern State (Texas)Radio: None
Live Stats: TBA
Leading The Hunt (2018 stats)
Batting Average: Abi Corbett (.382)
Hits: Abi Corbett (71)
Doubles: Erika Lutgen (15)
Triples: Abi Corbett and Emily Harris (2)
Home Runs: Erika Lutgen (15)
RBI: Erika Lutgen (33)
Stolen Bases: Abi Corbett (35)
ERA: Natalie Hamm (3.02)
Wins: Taurean Guzman (11)
Strikeouts: Natalie Hamm (107)
Fewest Walks Allowed: Abby Atkin (29)
Opponent Batting Avg: Natalie Hamm (.218)
Touching All the Bases (Three Facets That Opponents Bring to the Diamond!)
Ouachita Baptist (1-3)
Picked Eighth in the Great American Conference (GAC) preseason poll
Return ten total players along with one of four All-GAC recipients in senior pitcher Marissa Butler (2nd)
Given up 14 runs in four games, including a loss to MIAA member Northeastern State (5-2) in the opening game on Feb. 1as the Tigers look for their first winning season of this decade
Midwestern State-Texas (4-1)
Picked Seventh in Lone Star Conference (LSC) preseason poll
Return nine letter winners (four seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores)
Since the LSC began in 1997, Midwestern State won two regular-season conference titles in back-to-back seasons (2006 & 2007) while finishing runner-up in 2005 and winning the North Division five times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, & 2011); all happening when the conference was split into the North and South divisions
NFCA Coaches Poll
RANK SCHOOL POINTS RECORD PREVIOUS
1 Southern Indiana (16) 400 41-23 1
2 Southern Arkansas 363 60-11 3
3 North Georgia 354 62-4 5
4 Saint Anselm 353 44-13-1 2
5 Saint Leo 341 39-18 4
6 Angelo State 330 53-9 6
7 Chico State 320 55-6 7
8 West Chester 274 45-15 8
9 Texas A&M Commerce 266 42-12 9
10 Concordia Irvine 239 46-14 10
11 UAH 236 39-18 11
12 Illinois-Springfield 211 40-19 12
13 Young Harris 194 35-21 14
14 Tarleton State 187 50-11 20
15 Winona State 182 45-7 19
16 Grand Valley State 151 44-9 17
17 Dixie State 136 42-10 13
18 Palm Beach Atlantic 123 36-8 22
19 Lenoir-Rhyne 109 45-10 21
20 Arkansas Tech 88 39-17 NR
21 Colorado Mesa 82 48-5 16
22 Valdosta State 61 41-11 RV
23 UC San Diego 60 36-19 RV
24 Gannon 49 32-15 24
25 Augustana 46 42-15 RV
Receiving Votes: Southern New Hampshire (24), Embry-Riddle (10)..
Next Stretch
Missouri Southern makes another trip to Bentonville next weekend for three days (Feb. 15-17) as part of the 9-State Classic beginning with Henderson State at 11:00 am on Friday.
No comments:
Post a Comment