CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College softball team will look to defend their Gulf South Conference championship at this week's GSC Tournament, hosted by the University of North Alabama in Florence, Ala.
The tournament opens on Thursday (May 3) with the #4 seed Lady Choctaws (28-15, 19-12) facing #5 Montevallo (32-14, 19-13 GSC) in the opening round at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets for the event are $8 for adults, $5 for ages 6-17 and $20 for a tournament pass. All four days of games are scheduled to be played at the UNA Softball Complex.
For more information, including the full schedule of events, bracket, statistics and more, visit the
GSC Tournament Home Page.
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#1 NORTH ALABAMA (42-5, 29-3 GSC)
The Lions are ranked 4th nationally and have had two separate winning streaks of at least 18 games this season. MC went 2-1 at North Alabama, handing them their only two home losses of the season. UNA leads the league in batting average (.366), earned run average (1.90) and fielding percentage (.975).
Kara Brewer (.468) is the team's leading hitter with a team-high 13 doubles. Hannah Shollenberger (.415) has driven in a team best 40 runs, while Harley Stokes (.439) leads the team with 11 home runs. Meleah Hargett (.372) leads the team with 15 stolen bases, while Bailey Nelson (.368) has 12.
Megan Garst (21-2, 1.27 ERA) was named the GSC Pitcher of the Year, leading the team with 146 strikeouts and 12 complete games. Laken Distefano (15-2, 2.78 ERA) is second on the team with 93.0 innings pitched in just her freshman season.
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#2 VALDOSTAÂ STATE (39-11, 23-9 GSC)
The Blazers are tied for the league-high with eight GSC championships, including winning six straigh from 2009-14. They rank 10th in the league in batting average (.290), 2nd in earned run average (2.71) and 7th in fielding percentage (.953).
GSC Player of the Year Jessica Mohl (.456) leads the team in most statistical categories, including hits (72), runs scored (57), doubles (19), triples (7), RBI (43) and stolen bases (30). Brandy Morgan (.275) has hit a team-high 12 home runs, while Taylor Hartenbach (.340) and Heather Robinson (.260) are just behind with 10.
Kasie Johnson (12-5, 2.37 ERA) has made a team-high 21 starts and leads the squad with 10 complete games and 66 strikeouts. Kathryn Carter (15-4, 2.74 ERA) has made a team-high 30 appearances and has walked just 19 batters in 117.2 innings.
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#3 UAH (34-14, 22-10 GSC)
The Chargers have also won eight Gulf South Conference tournament championships with their most recent coming in 2008. They rank 3rd in the league in batting average (.347), 4th in earned run average (.313) and 9th in fielding percentage (.951).
Reagan Malone (.407) is the team's leading hitter with a team-best six triples. Shelby Booker (.395) has a team-high 62 hits, 50 runs scored and 23 stolen bases. Alaina Hampton (.341) has 14 home runs and 51 RBI to lead the team, while Kiara Akles (.313) has 11 long balls.
In the circle, Layton Murphy (17-8, 2.22 ERA) has pitched a team-high 148.1 innings with 87 strikeouts. Jada Hayes (7-3, 3.35 ERA) and Akles (10-3, 4.49 ERA) have combined for 112 strikeouts in 157.2 innings.
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#4 MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE (28-15, 19-12 GSC)
The Lady Choctaws are the defending Champions, winning their first women's GSC title in school history. MC currently ranks 5th in the league in batting average (.309), 6th in earned run average (3.65) and 13th in fielding percentage (.947).
Makenzie Nieto (.368) is the team's leading hitter and is tied with
Carly Crawford (.316) for the most doubles on the team with seven.
Brianna Caldwell (.324) leads the team with 12 home runs, followed closely by
Kristen Qualls (.331) with eight.
Katherine Lee (.338) leads the team with 33 stolen bases, followed by
Kayla Murphy (.279) with 28.
Cori Cooper (10-3, 2.56 ERA) is leading the squad with 75 strikeouts and five complete games in 87.2 innings pitched.
Adrianna Morgan (9-1, 2.88 ERA), collected a win and a save in the series victory over Delta State last weekend.
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#5 MONTEVALLO (32-14, 19-13 GSC)
The Falcons have qualified for the GSC Tournament in their first season in the league after moving over from the Peach Belt Conference prior to this season. They rank 2nd in the league in batting average (.356), 11th in earned run average (4.20) and 10th in fielding percentage (.951).
Kelsey Vining (.479) is the team's leading hitter with 16 doubles, 70 hits and 55 runs scored. Darbi Duke (.421) leads the league in stolen bases with 58 and has scored 53 runs. Haley Barnett (.371) leads the team with seven home runs and has 11 doubles.
Alexis Bonnano (12-8, 3.34 ERA) leads the team with 83 strikeouts in 88.0 innings, while Mychael McMillan (8-1, 4.55 ERA) is allowing opponents to hit a team-best .263. Abbey Pratt (3-1, 2.98 ERA) has a team-high five saves.
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#6 WEST FLORIDA (19-18, 18-13 GSC)
The Argonauts were the South Region representative in last year's Division II World Series and are making their 21st appearance in the GSC Tournament with three championships (1998, 2004, 2005). They currently rank 8th in batting average (.296), 3rd in earned run average (3.00) and 4th in fielding percentage (.956) in the league.
Meghan Toney (.348) leads the team with 48 hits and 31 runs scored, while Jibrasha Moore (.338) has 47 hits and has stolen a team-high 26 bases. Rachel Wright (.287) has a team-high 15 doubles, while Tiona Hill (.280) leads the way with six home runs.
Sarah Maloney (9-4, 2.08 ERA) leads the team in innings pitched (107.2) and strikeouts (99), while Grace Gilbert (11-5, 2.62 ERA) leads the squad in wins and complete games (8), while also hitting .375 with seven doubles.
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#7 DELTA STATE (26-23, 17-16 GSC)
The Lady Statesmen are making their 31st appearance in the GSC Tournament after missing out on the 2017 festivities. They currently rank 7th in the league in batting average (.298), 5th in earned run average (3.37) and 8th in fielding percentage (.951).
Kelly Byrd (.380) leads the team in doubles (11), home runs (10), runs scored (33) and RBI (46), earning Second Team All-GSC honors. Jordan Jones (.339) also has 11 doubles and a team-high 23 stolen bases. Abi Gibson (.319) is the team's leadoff hitter and is 2nd on the squad with 30 runs scored.
Taylor Johnson (10-11, 3.08 ERA) leads the team with 113.2 innings pitched, followed by Nicole Fullilove (9-4, 3.09 ERA), who leads the squad with 73 strikeouts in 108.2 innings. Both starting pitchers have tossed eight complete games this season.
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#8 LEE (27-27, 15-18 GSC)
The Lady Flames made their first appearance in the Gulf South Conference Tournament last season, falling in the opener to the Lady Choctaws by a score of 4-2. They currently rank 6th in the GSC in batting average (.300), 7th in earned run average (3.65) and 3rd in fielding percentage (.957).
Taylor Moran (.446) leads the offense with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 62 RBI and 42 runs scored. Kayla Louie (.375) has stolen a team-high 29 bases, while Brooklynn Frazier (.292) has added nine doubles, five home runs and 37 RBI.
Leigh Beatenbough (14-10, 2.68 ERA) leads Lee in wins, complete games (10), innings pitched (162.0) and strikeouts (129). Shonna Penney (8-10, 4.73 ERA) leads the team with 23 starts and has six complete games.
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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 contactÂ
David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.
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