CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College softball team will play host to a pair of teams from the State of Missouri this weekend as Drury and Missouri Southern State come to the MC Softball Complex for a round-robin event.

The Panthers and Lions will face off on Saturday (Feb. 16) at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Lady Choctaws taking on MSSU at 3:00 p.m. and DU at 5:00 p.m. On Sunday (Feb. 17), the two schools from the Show-Me State will play at 11:00 a.m. with MC playing Drury at 1:00 p.m. and Missouri Southern at 3:00 p.m.
 

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MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE (9-3, 0-0 GSC)
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The Lady Choctaws are led by 13th-year head coach Brooke O'Hair, who collected her 350th career victory in Game 1 of the Wednesday doubleheader against Kentucky State. Coach O'Hair has a career record of 351-217 and MC has now won seven of their last eight games.

On Wednesday, the Lady Choctaws swept a doubleheader from Kentucky State, outscoring the Thorobreds 13-0 over the two contests. Sophomore Madi Lancaster and freshman Hannah Creel each tossed their first career shutouts in the wins.

On the season, junior Shayla McKissock (.400) has been the team's top hitter with 12 hits, 12 runs scored and seven RBI. Freshman Annemarie Peavy (.321) has a team-high four doubles and a triple, sitting second on the team with nine hits.

The Lady Choctaws tallied four extra-base hits in the second game of the doubleheader against KSU, including a pair of triples from senior Alexia Harmon and McKissock.

The pitching staff has posted a 2.04 ERA over the first 12 games, striking out 54 batters with just 18 walks.

Creel (3-0, 1.52 ERA) leads the team in innings pitched (23.0) and strikeouts (22), trailed closely by senior Cori Cooper (1-2, 1.56 ERA) with 21 strikeouts in 18.0 innings. Senior Adrianna Morgan (3-1, 2.88 ERA) is tied for the team-lead with three victories.
 

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DRURY (4-2, 0-0 GLVC)
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The Panthers, out of Springfield, Mo., are 4-2 on the young season, including a 9-0 victory over fellow GSC member Christian Brothers on February 3rd. Led by 2nd-year head coach Jerry Breaux, Drury went 20-24 with an 11-17 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2018. The Panthers were picked to finish 11th in the GLVC preseason poll.

Drury opened the season in Arkadelphia, Ark. at the Ouachita Baptist Tournament, taking 3-of-4 games with their only loss coming to MC's former American Southwest Conference rival and current Division II transitionee, Texas-Tyler (2-7). They went to San Antonio, Texas last weekend and picked up a loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville (8-9) with a win over Eastern New Mexico (9-8).

The Panthers are hitting .359 as a team, scoring 40 runs over the first six games. Megan Holmes (.571) is the team's top offensive threat early on, tallying four doubles and eight RBI. Devin Hale (.368) and Madoline Seumalo (.292) have driven in seven runs apiece, while Kaelie Smith (.381) has a team-high eight runs scored.

Four pitcher have seen action over the first six games with Kasey Cazares (2-1, 1.75 ERA) leading the way witth 16.0 innings pitched and 19 strikeouts. Madison Resch (1-1, 2.33 ERA) is allowing opponents to only hit .184 on the season.
 

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MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE (1-1, 0-0 MIAA)
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The Lions, out of Joplin, Mo., have played just two games on the young season, grabbing a win over Ouachita Baptist (2-1) and falling to Midwestern State (2-4). Led by 1st-year head coach Hallie Blackney, the Lions MSSU went 23-29 with a 10-16 record in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2018. The Lions were picked to finish 10th the MIAA preseason poll.

Averaging 2.0 runs per game after just two contests, the Lions have collected three extra-base hits on the year. Angel Badalamenti (.429) has the team's home run and two RBI on the season. Lexi Ferrari (.429) joins her with a team-high three hits.

In the circle, Abby Atkin (1-0, 1.00 ERA) is tied for the team lead with Mikaela Cox (0-0, 0.00 ERA) with three strikeouts in each of their appearances. Atkin tossed a complete game in the win over OBU, alloiwng just four hits with no walks.
 

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GAME NOTES

MC was picked to finish 3rd in the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing 4th in the final standings in 2018 with a record of 29-16 and 19-12 in league play.

Head coach Brooke O'Hair won her 350th career game on Wednesday (Feb. 13) with a 5-0 victory over Kentucky State. She is already the winningest coach in school history and has the top winning percentage (.618) among the school's five head coaches.

The Lady Choctaws are scheduled to play 29 teams that combined to post a record of 821-689 (.544) in 2018, including four teams that finished the season ranked in the top 12 in the final NFCA rankings. They wiil play defending national champion Southern Indiana (#1), Saint Leo (#5), North Georgia (#3) and Illinois Springfield (#12). USI, SLU and UNG all made it to the College World Series.

MC will face five first-time opponents in 2019, including Tuskegee, Saint Leo, Southern Indiana, Kentucky State and Drury.

The Lady Choctaws were scheduled to travel to Bentonville, Ark. this weekend, but due to weather concerns, the the Alvy Early Tournament was canceled. Drury and Missouri Southern were also scheduled to appear in the tournament and will now come to Clinton for a two-day round robin event.

Two Lady Choctaws return after earning All-Gulf South Conference honors last season. Carly Crawford was named to the First Team for the second straight season, while Cori Cooper earned Second team honors in the circle.

The Lady Choctaws opened their home schedule on Wednesday with a pair of shutout wins over Kentucky State. Sophomore Madi Lancaster and freshman Hannah Creel gave up no runs in the circle.

TOUGH SCHEDULE
The Lady Choctaws are scheduled to play 29 teams that combined to post a record of 821-689 (.544) in 2018, including four teams that finished the season ranked in the top 12 in the final NFCA rankings. They wiil play defending national champion Southern Indiana (#1), Saint Leo (#5), North Georgia (#3) and Illinois Springfield (#12). USI, SLU and UNG all made it to the College World Series.

SHUTOUT SWEEP
The Lady Choctaws cruised to a doubleheader sweep of Kentucky State on Wednesday, outscoring the Thorobreds 13-0. Sophomore Madi Lancaster allowed just four hits on the way to her first career shutout, while freshman Hannah Creel gave up just one hit in her victory. MC had a pair of triples and doubles in the 8-0 win, while senior Makenzie Nieto drove in five runs. The defense shined as well, turning three double plays over the two games.

HOW WE STACK UP
After the first two weekends of softball, the Lady Choctaws rank 5th in the Gulf South Conference in earned run average (2.04) and 4th in strikeouts (54). They also sit 7th in batting average (.293) and leads the GSC in stolen bases (33). MC also moved up to 9th in fielding percentage (.950).

WE WERE MERELY FRESHMEN
The 2019 Lady Choctaws have five players that opened their careers in 2016 with an NCCAA National Championship in Troutville, Va. Alexia Harmon, Shelby Miller, Penny Nichols, Makenzie Nieto and Kristen Qualls were all a part of the first women's team in MC history to win a national title. The Lady Choctaws cruised through the NCCAA World Series, allowing just 10 runs and scoring 46. They closed out the historic run with a shutout victory over Belhaven that saw only two Blazer baserunners even reach second base against Carlie Sargent.

NEW FACES ALL OVER THE PLACE
The Lady Choctaws welcome 11 newcomers to the 2019 squad, including five freshman and six transfers. Junior Morgan Bradford (Southern Union State CC) and freshman Hannah Creel (Bowling Green School) were named to the GSC's Top Newcomer List. The newcomers are from four different states, including Georgia (Bradford, Hayden Claypool), Louisiana (Ashley Elsensohn, Paige Hulin, Annemarie Peavy, Gracie Trahan), Mississippi (Creel, Kendal Daniels, Abbey Salvo) and Texas (Baylee Freudenberg, Grace Hahn).

HOME RUN QUEENS
Junior Kristen Qualls became MC's all-time home run leader with her 28th long ball on Friday (April 13) against #22 UAH. The home run came with two outs in the seventh inning to tie the score at 6-6. The former Madison Central standout broke the record of 27 home runs held by Brooke Smitherman (2011-15). Qualls also ranks 2nd in school history with 125 runs batted in, just 10 shy of Smitherman (135).

Brianna Caldwell set a single-season record with 14 home runs in 2018. She would set the record with a pair of long balls in the GSC Tournament against Montevallo. It was Caldwell's second time to hit two home runs in a game, also sending two out on February 24th against West Georgia. Her 14 home runs in 2018 already has her 5th in school history for career long balls.

EYE ON THE RECORD BOOKS
There are other Lady Choctaws that are on pace to make their mark on the MC Softball record books, starting with senior Alexia Harmon, who has played in 168 career games. The record for games played is currently held by Megan Everett (2014-17), who saw action in 209 contests. The former Madison Central standout also sits in the top 15 in school history in at-bats, hits, runs scored, doubles, runs batted in, total bases, hit-by-pitches, stolen bases and stolen base attempts.

Qualls, Harmon's teammated at MCHS, is also set to rise up the lists, sitting in the Top 15 in games played, slugging percentage, at-bats, hits, runs batted in, total bases, base on balls and hit-by-pitches

LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS, OH MY!
The 2019 campaign features several unique mascots for the Lady Choctaws as they will face 30 teams with 25 different personalities. The most common mascot opponent for MC will be the Tigers (Ouachita Baptist, Tuskegee and West Alabama), followed by the Bearcats (McKendree and Northwest Missouri State), Lions (Saint Leo and Missouri Southern State) and Tritons (Eckerd and Missouri-St. Louis).
 

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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 will be 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.