ROME, Ga. --- The Mississippi College softball team will hit the road for the first time in three weeks when they travel to Rome, Ga. to face Shorter University in a three-game series at the Alto Park Softball Complex. The teams will play a doubleheader at noon (CT) on Saturday, followed by the finale on Sunday at noon (CT).

THE COACHES
The Lady Choctaws are led by 10th-year head coach Brooke O'Hair, who is the winningest skipper in Lady Choctaw history and picked up her 250th career win on Sunday against West Alabama. She has led MC to four 30-win seasons, three NCAA Regional appearances and two NCCAA World Series.

The Hawks are led by 5th-year head coach Al Thomas, who has led the team to two national championships in his tenure with 189 career victories. Last season, Shorter won the GSC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA World Series, finishing 3rd.

THE SERIES
Last season was the first-ever meeting between the two schools with Shorter coming to Clinton and winning 2-of-3 games. The Lady Choctaws scored three unearned runs in the opener and held on for a 3-2 victory. The Hawks won the second game 5-1 and hung on for a 4-3 win in the series finale.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Choctaws went 5-0 last week, including a three-game sweep of West Alabama. MC allowed just four earned runs over the wins and freshman Cheyenne Mathews hit the game-winning home run in the 5-4 win in the finale.

The Hawks were swept at home against North Alabama last weekend, getting outscored 11-1 in the doubleheader on Saturday. On Sunday, Shorter jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but UNA used two late home runs to get the 7-5 victory.

MILESTONE WATCH
Senior Carlie Sargent ranks 3rd in school history in strikeouts/game (5.90), 8th in strikeouts (194) and 9th in lowest ERA (2.19).

Senior infielder Kimmie Conley ranks 9th in school history in RBI (72) and is tied for 13th in career games played (144).

Junior outfielder Megan Everett became the 20th player in school history to reach the century mark in hits, pulling off the feat against Delta State. She now ranks 13th in school history with 111.

THE MATCHUP
The Lady Choctaws picked up their first GSC wins of the season with the sweep of UWA last weekend. They outscored the Tigers 21-6 in the three games and gave up just four earned runs.

Freshman Kristen Qualls (.404) is the team's leading hitter with five doubles, four home runs and 19 RBI. She went 5-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored on Saturday against UWA.

Freshman Alexia Harmon (.381) leads the team with 24 hits and two triples, while Cheyenne Mathews (.396) ranks 2nd on the team with 15 RBI and had the game-winning HR against UWA.

Sargent (5-3, 2.26 ERA) was named the NCCAA Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 with a 1.7 ERA and 23 strikeouts last week. She sits just six punchout away from becoming the 9th player in school history with 200.

Niki Cook (.500) leads the team with 19 hits, 15 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Kameron Carter (.389) has a team-high three home runs, while Kendall Johnson (.371) leads the way with 14 RBI.

Payton Lippert (3-3, 1.44 ERA) leads the team with 39.0 innings pitched, 19 strikeouts and six complete games. Hannah Draper (3-1, 1.85 ERA) and Kalei Kimbrell (2-0, 2.02 ERA, 2 SV) have also seen action in the circle this season.