Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball team heads to Durant, Oklahoma for a three-day event where the Lions will face off against six teams (two per-day) beginning on Friday, Feb. 2 at noon against East Central inside the Durant Multi-Sports Complex.
 
Under third-year head coach Melissa Chmielewski the Lions turned in a 27-30 record (16-10 MIAA play) for a fourth-place finish. Southern went on to its first MIAA tournament appearance in seven years (2011) and is looking to improve upon that being selected to end the 2018 season in a tie for sixth with Emporia State.

Southern returns ten players from a season ago and adds four freshmen and three transfers to build off what the Lions put together in a memorable 2017 campaign.
 
The Rundown
Friday

• 12 pm against East Central
• 2:30 pm against Rockhurst

Saturday

• 12 pm against Oklahoma Baptist
• 2:30 pm against Southeastern

 Sunday

• 9:30 am against Oklahoma Christian
• 2:30 pm against Cameron

Ticket Information: http://gosoutheastern.com/sports/2016/2/4/SB_0204165935.aspx
TV/Stream: Field seven: http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/ardmore-ok-kicm-tv/
                   Field six: http://www.citylinktv.com/channel/durant-mix-tv/ 
Radio: None
Live Stats: Check respective schools site

Beauty and Strength of the Pride

5. 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).
5. Launched into the top-5 of different categories on its run to the MIAA tournament by finishing the 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).
5. Take on three NFCA ranked opponents this season in No. 1 Minnesota State, No. 10 Southern Arkansas, and No. 24 Winona State, while MIAA pre-season leader Central Oklahoma has 14 votes early on.
5. Finished 16-6 in the team's final ten double headers of the regular season.
5. 6-10 overall in its three stops in Durant (2013, 2016, & 2017).

Leading The Hunt (2017 stats)
Batting Average: Abi Corbett (.444)
Hits: Abi Corbett (96)
Doubles: Myranda Stewart (12)
Triples: Abi Corbett (3)
Home Runs: Myranda Stewart (6)
RBI: Myranda Stewart (55)
Stolen Bases: Abi Corbett (30)
ERA: Sydney Koch (3.41)
Wins: Sydney Koch/Taurean Guzman (11)
Strikeouts: Taurean Guzman (78)
Shutouts: Sydney Koch (3)
Fewest Walks Allowed: Mikaela Cox (16)
Opponent Batting Avg: Sydney Koch (.269)
 
What the Opponents are Bringing to the Battle!
 East Central University
            Series: ECU leads 1-0
Great American Conference … Fifth (31-26 overall / 22-21 GAC) … return five of six All-GAC recipients (one first-team, two second-team, and three honorable mention) … picked sixth in their conference pre-season poll … retained ten players from last year's squad … went 5-1 in its first Southeastern Regional appearance last season.
 
Rockhurst
            Series: RHU leads 12-5
Great Lakes Valley Conference … Second (31-22 overall / 19-7 GLVC) … claimed share of GLVC regular-season title … return one of three All-GLVC recipients (one third team), not including conference pitcher of the year in Bridgette Sappington … picked fifth in their conference pre-season poll … allowed only 16 home runs for the fewest and limited opponents to a .241 batting average for third in the conference … returning 11 players from last year's squad … announced the hiring of first-year head coach Baily Wittenauer back in July … went 3-3 in its first appearance in Durant.
 
Oklahoma Baptist
            Series: MSSU leads 4-3
Great American Conference … Tenth (28-29 overall / 14-26 GAC) … 2017 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Champions … First year eligible for the NCAA postseason and to compete in GAC tournament … picked 11th in their conference pre-season poll … retained five starters from the national championship squad … making its debut at the Regional Invitational.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma State
            Series: SEOSU leads 2-1
Great American Conference … 12^th (18-34 overall / 12-30 GAC) … return all three All-GAC recipients (one first-team, one second-team, and one honorable mention), which included two sophomores and a freshman … picked eighth in their conference pre-season poll … retained six of eight starters and two starting pitchers from last year's squad … recorded a 11-10 record in their own tournament.  
 
Oklahoma Christian
            Series: OCU leads 4-2
Heartland Conference … Third (33-23 overall / 13-8 HCAC) … had 11 players available to them during the 2017 season with an increase of five for 2018 … return HCAC pitcher of the year in Madison Hagood and two right-handers that both landed on the second-team list … picked third in their conference pre-season poll … registered a .500 record (6-6) heading into its third appearance in Durant.
 
Cameron
            Series: Teams are knotted up at 4-4
Lone Star Conference … Third (33-20 overall / 20-8 LSC) … return three of five All-LSU recipients (one first-team, one second-team, and one third team) … picked fifth in their conference pre-season poll … reached the NCAA South Central Regional retained eight players from last year's squad … retained eight players (five starters) from last year's squad … accumulated a 6-4 record in its two trips to Durant for the Regional Invitational.
 
Next Stretch
Two weeks until MSSU is back in action and makes its way to Bentonville, Arkansas to take on Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas, Illionis (Springfield), Henderson State, Minnesota (Duluth), and Nebraska-Kearney as part of the UAM Division II Softball Classic from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18.