Joplin, Mo. - Finally after spending their first 15 games in another state, the Missouri Southern Lions face off against four opponents as part of Teri Mathis-Zenner Memorial Tournament leading off on Saturday, March 3 in a rematch with Rockhurst University at 2:00 pm and close out Sunday, March 4 against Drury at noon inside the Gene Baseman Softball Complex of the Joplin Parks and Recreation Department.
The Lions (4-11) look to rebound as they produced a 5-1 record in 2017 against their four upcoming opponents, not including an early win against RU in the Durant, Oklahoma to begin 2018.
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.
Live stats will be available during all four MSSU games throughout the weekend.
The Rundown
Saturday
- 2:00 pm against Rockhurst University
- 4:00 pm against McKendree
Sunday
- 10:00 am against Sioux Falls
- 12:00 pm against Drury
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. 1 Minnesota State, No. 12 Southern Arkansas, No. 18 Cameron, No. 19 Winona State, No. 21 Texas A&M Commerce, and MIAA pre-season leader Central Oklahoma (10-4) receiving 17 votes, while defeating Missouri-St. Louis when it was No. 14.
- Finished 16-6 in the team's final ten double headers of the 2017 regular season.
Leading the Hunt (current stats)
Batting Average:
Abi Corbett (.407)
Hits:
Abi Corbett (22)
Doubles:
Erika Lutgen (5)
Triples:
Lexi Ferrari and
Abi Corbett (1)
Home Runs:
Shelby Friend/
Kaycee Hodgson/
Erika Lutgen (2)
RBI:
Erika Lutgen (8)
Stolen Bases:
Abi Corbett (10)
ERA:
Natalie Hamm (4.12)
Wins:
Taurean Guzman (2)
Strikeouts:
Abby Atkin (26)
Shutouts: N/A
Fewest Walks Allowed:
Mikaela Cox (1)
Opponent Batting Avg:
Natalie Hamm (.224)
What the Opponents are Bringing to the Battle!
Rockhurst Hawks (5-4)
Series: RHU leads 12-6
Great Lakes Valley Conference … Second (31-22 overall / 19-7 GLVC) … claimed share of GLVC regular-season title … picked fifth in their conference pre-season poll … return one of three All-GLVC recipients (one third team), not including conference pitcher of the year in Bridgette Sappington … loss to the Lions in the second game of the Southeastern Regional Invitational (4-1) … three players batting over .400 in Payton Staggs (.452), Hanna Stam (.400), and Megan Freitag (.400) in nine games with 36 hits, nine doubles, five walks, three triples, and three homeruns for 23 RBIs and 21 runs scored among the trio … the Hawks lead the conference in batting average (.358) and tied for triples with ten … starting pitcher Shannon Greene leads the staff with a 5-2 record, 2.14 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and five complete games in seven appearances, while the other two have allowed 26 runs and 16 walks in 16.2 innings within the circle for a combined 0-2 record … announced the hiring of first-year head coach Baily Wittenauer back in July.
McKendree Bearcats (7-2)
Series: MSSU leads 3-1
Great Lakes Valley Conference … Fifth (32-21 overall / 16-10 GLVC) for a program best since joining the league in 2013 … picked fourth in the preseason conference poll … loss both All-GLVC recipients from last season (one first-team first baseman and a second-team outfielder … … return four starters out of 21 total players from the 2017 … has outscored opponents by 20 runs (51-31) in nine games … saw its seven-game winning streak snapped after a one-run loss to Emporia State (5-4) … 3-1 against the MIAA thus far against Washburn and ESU …second in the conference with nine homeruns squad … lost to MSSU after the Lions scored five runs in the first four innings in a 5-3 victory … head coach Ashley Fleming enters her third season at the helm and got the bearcats back on track last year with the team's first winning season since 2011.
Sioux Falls Cougars (2-3)
Series: MSSU leads 2-0
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference … Seventh (30-28 overall / 16-14 NSIC) … bring back both All-NSIC honorees in first-team designated player Kerrigan Hoshaw and second-team first baseman Sydney Nieveen … chosen fifth in the preseason poll … return 12 out of 15 players on the current roster, including eight players with 20-plus starters … have accumulated at least 30-wins in the last four seasons (2014-2017) since head coach Kelsey Thompson (4
th season) was hired - after five-straight losing seasons prior (2009-2013).
Drury Panthers (3-3)
Series: MSSU leads 12-10
Great Lakes Valley Conference … Last (19-36 overall / 6-24 GLVC) … picked to finish 15th in the conference preseason poll … return five starters out of 14 players total … loss to Southern twice in 2017 by a combined score of 13-1 … Jerry Breaux begins his first season as the head coach - won 12 conference championships during a 739-404-2 record at Evangel of the NAIA.
NFCA Coaches Poll
RANK SCHOOL POINTS RECORD PREVIOUS
1 Minnesota State 398 9-0 1
2 North Georgia 384 21-0 2
3 Colorado Mesa 360 12-0 3
4 Dixie State 357 15-0 4
5 Angelo State 328 17-1 5
6 West Virginia Wesleyan 320 0-0 6
7 Chico State 307 17-0 8
8 Saint Leo 282 12-3 T-10
9 West Texas A&M 257 11-1 T-10
10 Harding 256 6-1 12
11 North Alabama 229 10-2 13
12 Southern Arkansas 202 10-2 7
13 Southern Indiana 184 5-3 9
14 West Florida 161 9-5 17
15 Lenoir-Rhyne 159 11-4 14
16 Sonoma State 144 13-5 NR
17 Palm Beach Atlantic 143 10-2 18
18 Cameron 112 14-3 21
19 Winona State 107 7-2 19
20 Concordia Irvine 79 7-4 16
21 Texas A&M-Commerce 68 12-1 T-25
22 Merrimack 64 5-1 22
23 Valdosta State 60 14-4 20
24 Saginaw Valley State 53 2-0 NR
25 Queens (NC) 50 15-2 NR
Receiving Votes: UC San Diego (40), Indianapolis (21),
Central Oklahoma (17), Tarleton State (17), California Baptist (13), Lee (11),
Arkansas Tech (9), Lander (4), Molloy (3), Coker (1).
MIAA Teams and 2017-18 opponents in
Bold; Central Region Teams
Italicized.
Next Stretch
Southern prepares for its much-awaited Home opener against Washburn University on Friday, March 9 in its first conference match up this season followed by Emporia State on Saturday, March 10 in as part of a MIAA back-to-back layout inside the Pat Lipira Softball Complex next weekend.
