HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- The Mississippi College softball team will take their final road trip off the regular season when they travel to face #25 Alabama Huntsville in a three-game set at Charger Park. The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday (2:00 pm), followed by a single game on Sunday (1:00 pm).
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 February 28th against West Alabama. She has led MC to four 30-win seasons, three NCAA Regional appearances and two NCCAA World Series.
The Chargers are led by 21st-year head coach Les Stuedeman, who has been the only coach in school history. The fifth winningest active coach in Division II has led UAH to a 967-306-1 record in her career.
THE SERIES
Last season, MC and UAH met in Clinton for the first-ever clash between the two school. The series was split with MC taking Game 1 (6-3) and the Chargers taking Game 2 (8-1). Sunday's series finale was canceled due to rain.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Choctaws ran into a buzzsaw in #6 North Alabama, fallilng to the GSC-leading Lions in three games in Florence. MC took a late lead in Sunday's series finale, but a 5-run 5th inning by UNA clinched the sweep.
The Chargers are coming off a road sweep of their own as they were taken down three times at Valdosta State last weekend. UAH lost a couple of close games on Saturday, but VSU took the sweep with an 8-0 victory on Sunday.
MILESTONE WATCH
Senior
Carlie Sargent is MC's all-time leader in strikeouts/game, posting 6.27 per contest in her career. She also ranks 3rd in school history in walks/game (1.30), 4th in strikeouts (295) and 6th in lowest ERA (2.02).
Senior infielder
Kimmie Conley ranks 4th in school history in games played (168), 5th in walks (56), 7th in RBI (82), 9th in doubles (23) and at-bats (439).
Junior outfielder
Megan Everett is also climbing the record books, ranking 8th in MC history in RBI (79) and hits (140) and 11th in at-bats (436).
The Lady Choctaws are also approaching team records in the final weeks. They have stolen 105 bases this season, the 2nd-most in school history (109, 2014). MC's 25 home runs this season is also the 2nd-best mark in school history (37, 2011).
THE MATCHUP
The Lady Choctaws are led at the plate by freshman
Kristen Qualls (.365), who paces MC with 10 doubles and 36 RBI. Junior
Tylan Buckley (.357) leads the way with nine home runs and 34 runs scored.
Everett (.340) has a team-high 48 hits in 141 at-bats. Sophomore
Katherine Lee (.275) leads the team with 29 stolen bases, the 4th-highest single season total in school history.
Sargent (14-8, 1.84 ERA) has the 3rd-highest strikeout total in school history with 149 this season. The school record is 177 by Katie Waterbury in 2002.
Freshman
Penny Nichols (13-6, 2.74 ERA) has tossed 17 complete games and three shutouts in her rookie season.
The Chargers are led at the plate by Kaitlyn Bannister (.406), who has a team-high 12 home runs, 16 doubles, 57 RBI and 55 runs scored. Brianna Sullivan (.325) and Savannah Smith (.316) lead the team with 27 and 22 stolen bases, respectively.
Tyler Harrison (19-7, 1.87 ERA) leads UAH with 146 strikeouts and just 24 walks in 153.2 innings pitched.
#MC#