Joplin, Mo. - 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 (2^nd)
• 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).
MIAA Teams and 2017-18 opponents in Bold; Central Region Teams Italicized.
 
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.