Joplin, Mo. - Despite weather issues preventing the UAM D II Classic in Bentonville, the Missouri Southern softball team takes to the campus of Emporia State for a two-day spurt
inside the Trusler Sports Complex with the first game set for 3:00 pm tomorrow afternoon against the University of Illinois-Springfield. 
 
Head coach Melissa Chmielewski's squad left Durant, Oklahoma with a 3-3 record for the team's best start through six games since 2013 (5-1). In the opening weekend the Lions outscored opponents by one run (22-21) and outhit them 53-36 during the stretch.
 
Southern has 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
Saturday

• 3:00 pm against Illinois-Springfield
• 5:00 pm against No. 10 Southern Arkansas  

 Sunday

• 11:00 am against No. 14 Missouri-St. Louis
• 1:00 pm against Henderson State

Stream: None
Radio: None
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com/mssu/softball/
 
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 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).

5. Take on four NFCA ranked opponents this season in No. 1 Minnesota State, No. 10 Southern Arkansas, No. 14 Missouri-St-Louis, and No. 24 Winona State, while MIAA pre-season leader Central Oklahoma (6-3) has 14 votes.
5. Finished 16-6 in the team's final ten double headers of the 2017 regular season. 
5. 2-2 last season against the four opponents, including a 6-5 victory over No. 5 Southern Arkansas.

 Leading The Hunt (current stats)
Batting Average: Abi Corbett (.500)
Hits: Abi Corbett (11)
Doubles: Lexi Ferrari and Erika Lutgen (3)
Triples: N/A
Home Runs: Shelby Friend/Kaycee Hodgson/Erika Lutgen (1)
RBI: Angel Badalamenti/Abi Corbett/Erika Lutgen (3)
Stolen Bases: Abi Corbett (4)
ERA: Taurean Guzman (1.15)
Wins: Taurean Guzman/Abby Akin/Natalie Hamm (1)
Strikeouts: Natalie Hamm (12)
Shutouts: N/A
Fewest Walks Allowed: Taurean Guzman (2)
Opponent Batting Avg: Taurean Guzman (.179)
 
What the Opponents are Bringing to the Battle!
 
University of Illinois-Springfield (0-0)
            Series: MSSU leads 5-3
Great Lakes Valley Conference … Sixth (31-23 overall / 17-11 GLVC) … return two of three
All-GLVC recipients (one second and one third team), including a pitcher and third baseman …
 picked seventh in their conference preseason poll … recorded three 30-plus win seasons since 2012 … have not played a game entering the 6-State Classic … loss last two meetings to MSSU …
returning 16 players and 12 starters from last year's squad … head coach Shannon Guthrie enters her fourth season at the helm with an 87-71 record as the third coach in Prairie history.
 
No. 10 Southern Arkansas (6-0)
            Series: SAU leads 7-2
Great American Conference … Second (46-18 overall / 32-12 GAC) … outscored opponents 44-12 with two shutouts and one game over three runs allowed … earned its second-straight 45-win season and trip to the NCAA Central Region Tournament … return five out of seven All-GAC recipients (two first-team, one second-team, and two honorable mention), which included all-Americans Jill Roye (GAC newcomer of the year) and Brooke Goad … did lose GAC player of the year Maddie Dow …  chosen to win and come out as the GAC Champion in the preseason pool ... return eight starters of 14 total players, including six that recorded over 55 games started … head coach Jason Anderson is in his fourth season with a NCAA College World Series berth in 2016 (53-11).
 
 No. 14 Missouri-St. Louis (2-2)
            Series: MSSU leads 19-7
Great Lakes Valley Conference … Third (42-15 overall / 17-7 GLVC) … return three of four
All-GLVC recipients (two first and one third team) with both first-teamers heading into their junior years as a pitcher and second baseman … picked second the preseason coaches' poll … three-peated as the GLVC champions from 2013 to 2015, while adding another championship run last season for four total in four of the last five seasons … accumulated five-straight 40-plus win seasons since 2013 … bring back six starters out of nine players altogether from the 2017 squad … head coach Amanda Scott enters her second year at the helm of the tritons.
 
 Henderson State (4-3)
            Series: HSU leads 6-2
Great American Conference … Seventh (23-33 overall / 17-25 GAC) … return two of three All-GAC recipients (one second-team and one honorable mention), which includes both players reaching senior status this season … picked fourth in their conference preseason poll … retained nine starters out of 15 players from last year's squad … head coach Beth Jackson enters her 10^th season for the Reddies, which includes the programs first GAC championship the conclusion of the 2015 season (43-15). 
 
Next Stretch
After concluding this weekend's tournament, the Lions return to Joplin for their home opener inside Pat Lipira Softball Complex against Texas A&M University - Commerce for a two-day weekend series leading off on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 1:00 pm and finishing on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 11:00 am. Both contests are double headers with a second game starting two hours from the first pitch of game one.