CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College softball team will travel to Cleveland for their final regular season games of the season, facing rival Delta State in a three-game set at University field.

The Lady Choctaws (26-14, 17-11 GSC) and the Lady Statesmen (25-21, 16-14 GSC) will play a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by the finale on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
 

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THE SERIES

MC and DSU have met 74 previous times with the Lady Choctaws holding a 40-34 edge in the series. Each of the last two season series have been swept by the home teams, including DSU taking all three in Clinton two years ago. In 2017, MC closed out the regular season with three straight wins over DSU.

The Lady Choctaws held the Lady Statesmen to just four runs over three games, outscoring their opponent 16-4. Kristen Gardner tossed a complete game, scattering seven hits and an earned run in a 3-1 victory. In the season finale, the Lady Choctaws jumped out to a 7-0 lead through two innings and cruised to a 9-1 win.
 

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MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
Record: 26-14, 17-11 GSC
ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATISTICS

The Lady Choctaws, led by 12th-year head coach Brooke O'Hair, opened the season 7-8 but have gone 19-6 over their last 25 games. MC currently ranks 5th in the GSC in batting average (.306), 6th in earned run average (3.55) and 12th in fielding percentage (.949).

The defending conference champions currently sit in the #4 spot in the GSC standings and can go no higher than that spot. Depending on how things shake out, MC could go no lower than the #7 seed going into next week's GSC Tournament.

Junior Brianna Caldwell (.328) hit her 12th home run of the season in last week's series against West Alabama, tying her for second in school history for long balls in a season. She has tallied 10 of her 12 home runs in conference games this season.

Junior Makenzie Nieto (.369) is the team's leading hitter with a team-high seven doubles, and the Lady Choctaws are 13-4 since she was inserted into right field on March 21st against Lane.

Senior Katherine Lee (.341) is the team-leader in stolen bases with 29 as the Lady Choctaws have stolen 100 bases for the third consecutive season. Lee also leads the team in hits (43) and runs scored (31).

Junior Kristen Qualls (.320) has hit safely in the last eight games with four multi-hit games over that span. She hit her 28th career home run in the series at UAH two weeks ago, which set a new school record, breaking the mark of Brooke Smitherman (2011-15).

In the circle, juniors Cori Cooper (9-2, 2.18 ERA) and Adrianna Morgan (8-1, 2.58 ERA) have combined to go 17-3 this season. Cooper leads the team with 68 strikeouts in 77.0 innings, while Morgan has allowed just 21 earned runs on the season.
 

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DELTA STATE
Record: 25-21, 16-14 GSC
ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATISTICS

The Lady Statesmen, led by 10th-year head coach Casey Bourgoyne-Charles, used a 9-game winning streak mid-way through March to help them clinch a spot in the GSC Tournament next weekend. They are coming of a three-game sweep at the hands of #4 North Alabama last weekend. DSU currently ranks 4th in the GSC in earned run average (3.15), 6th in batting average (.306) and 8th in fielding percentage (.953).

DSU is currently sitting in 7th in the GSC standings and could get as high as the #4 spot by the end of the weekend. They can go no lower than the 7-seed heading into next week's GSC Tournament.

Kelly Byrd (.389) is the team's leading hitter in 2018 with eight home runs, 11 doubles, 31 runs scored and 41 RBI, leading the squad in all categories. Jordan Jones (.327) leads the way with 22 stolen bases and also has 11 doubles. Olivia Dick (.317) and Abi Gibson (.315) are also hitting over .300 this seaon.

Taylor Johnson (10-10, 2.67 ERA) leads the team in starts (21) and innings pitched (107.1), while Nicole Fullilove (9-4, 2.94 ERA) has a team-best 65 strikeouts in 100.0 innings.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and started competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.

The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.