CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College softball team will make their 3rd straight trip to the Gulf South Conference Tournament in 2019, entering as the No. 3 seed in this year's bracket.
The Lady Choctaws will open the tournament against No. 6 seed West Georgia (28-26, 14-16 GSC) at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday (May 2) at the UWF Softball Complex in Pensacola, Fla.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
TIME: Thursday, May 2nd - Sunday, May 5th
LOCATION: Pensacola, Fla. || UWF Softball Complex
#1 WEST FLORIDA (43-8, 25-4 GSC)
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>> The Argos, out of Pensacola, Fla., come into the Gulf South Conference Tournament as the #1 seed and the #2 team in the nation. They have dropped just eight games all season and opened the year with 21 wins in their first 22 games with their only loss coming to South Region #2, Florida Tech. UWF dropped a season-high three straight games going into the season's final series, but they swept West Alabama, winning a pair of one-run games.
>> Led by first-year head coach Ashleigh McLean, the Argos are making their 22nd appearance in the GSC Tournament, winning three titles (1998, 2004, 2005). They lead the league in earned run average (1.93) and fielding percentage (.977). They have allowed a league-low 93 earned runs, and opponents are hitting only .200 against UWF. They also rank 2nd in the league in hitting (.332), leading the league with 24 triples.
>> Freshman Teala Howard (.457) is the team's leading hitter, pacing the squad with 53 runs scored and 42 stolen bases in 46 attempts. Rhiannon Sassman (.403) set the GSC record for career triples earlier this season and leads the team in 2019 in doubles (14), triples (8) and RBI (46). Kathleen Smiley (.336) has a team-high four home runs to go along with 37 runs batted in.
>> Kelsey Sweatt was a First Team All-GSC performer, going 16-2 with a 1.62 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 125.2 innings pitched. She has a team-high 13 complete games and opponents are hitting just .174 against her. Grace Gilbert (17-4, 2.04 ERA) and Tori Perkins (10-2, 2.21 ERA) have also contributed to the dominant UWF pitching staff.
#2 UAH (37-13, 21-8 GSC)
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>> The Chargers, out of Huntsville, Ala., come into the GSC Tournament as the #2 seed and the #16 team in the country. They have posted a 37-13 overall record with a 21-8 league mark, including winning 5-of-7 games to close the regular season. Over that stretch, they defeated the top-ranked team in the country, West Florida, outscoring the Argos 19-3 over a doubleheader. UAH also won conference series against Union and Montevallo over the final three weeks.
>> Led by 24th-year head coach Les Stuedeman, the only coach in school history, the Chargers are making their 21st appearance in the GSC Tournament, winning eight titles with their last coming in 2008. The Chargers are the top-hitting team in the league, posting a team batting average of (.348) with a GSC-high 99 doubles and 405 runs scored. They also rank 4th in the league in earned run average (3.25) and are 7th in fielding percentage (.955).
>> Shelby Booker (.456) has the top batting average in the league, leading the GSC in hits (73) with 12 doubles and stealing 42 bases in 43 attempts. Ashley Cornell (.419) is second on the team in batting average, while Shannon Long (.320) leads the team in home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.722). Jada Hayes (.338) is tied for the team-lead with 12 doubles and paces the squad with 51 RBI.
>> Kiara Akles (11-1, 3.21 ERA) leads the team in victories, while Sydnee Uhlman (9-4, 2.43 ERA) has a team-high 55 strikeouts. Both have tossed a team-high 80.2 innings with Uhlman leading the league with eight saves. Layton Murphy (10-5, 4.18 ERA) has started a team-high 18 games and has pitched 80.1 innings.
#3 MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE (38-12, 19-9 GSC)
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>> The Lady Choctaws, out of Clinton, Miss., come into the GSC Tournament as the #3 seed and the #25 team in the nation. They have posted a 38-12 overall record with a 19-9 league mark. MC went 13-2 in the month of April, allowing more than four runs just once and tossing seven shutouts in those 15 games. Senior
Cori Cooper was named GSC PItcher of the Year, while five Lady Choctaws earned All-GSC laurels.
>> Led by 13th-year head coach
Brooke O'Hair, the Lady Choctaws are making their 13th appearance in the GSC Tournament, taking home the title in 2017. They rank 2nd in the league in earned run average (1.95) and strikeouts (310). MC also sits 4th in batting average (.304) and are 2nd in doubles (81), triples (17) and stolen bases (134). The Lady Choctaws are also 8th in fielding percentage (.952) and are 2nd with 21 doubles plays turned.
>> Freshman
Annemarie Peavy (.353), a Second Team All-GSC honoree, leads the team in batting average, triples (4) and slugging percentage (.633). Junior
Carly Crawford (.336) has a team-best 14 doubles, seven home runs and 39 RBI. Junior
Shayla McKissock (.347) has scored a team-high 38 runs, while junior
Morgan Bradford (.333) has a team-best .469 on-base percentage.
>> Senior
Cori Cooper (13-7, 1.47 ERA) was named the league's Pitcher of the Year, pacing the conference in earned run average, strikeouts per seven innings (9.6) and shutouts (6). Freshman
Hannah Creel (16-4, 2.09 ERA) leads the team in complete games (15) and innings pitched (137.0).
#4 VALDOSTA STATE (33-14, 14-12 GSC)
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>> The Blazers, out of Valdosta, Ga., come into the Gulf South Conference Tournament as the #4 seed and the #15 team in the nation. They dropped their final series of the regular season at home to West Georgia, but the win in the season finale locked up the #4 seed. VSU currently holds the #3 seed in the NCAA South Region and seem to be a firm lock into the NCAA postseason.
>> Led by 13th-year head coach Thomas Macera, the Blazers are making their 30th trip to the GSC Tournament, winning a league-high nine titles, including splitting the 2018 championship with North Alabama after it was shortened due to rain. They rank 3rd in the league in earned run average (2.24) and lead the league in most strikeouts (342) and least walks (41). They also sit 3rd in fielding percentage (.965), while sitting 7th in team batting average (.290).
>> Haley Garrett (.358) is the team's top hitter, leading the squad with 48 hits and 40 runs scored. Kiley Robb (.287) leads the team with 12 home runs and 38 RBI, while Logan Hill (.298) has a team-best nine doubles. Seven different players have tallied at least 20 RBI this season, while Jordenne Gaten (.261) is a perfect 24-of-24 on stolen bases.
>> Caylie Van Auken (14-5, 1.76 ERA) leads the team in innings pitched (139.1) and strikeouts (169), walking just 18 batters all season. She leads the GSC in total strikeoutts and has a team-high 16 complete games this season. Kasie Johnson (14-5, 2.72 ERA) is second on the team in innings pitched (116.0) and strikeouts (132).
#5 WEST ALABAMA (28-21, 15-13 GSC)
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>> The Tigers, out of Livingston, Ala., come into the GSC Tournament as the #5 seed and currently sit in 9th in the NCAA South Region rankings. They have posted an overall record of 28-21 with a 15-13 league mark. UWA had won 8-of-10 games down the stretch, but they dropped all three games at West Florida to close out the regular season. They were only outscored 10-5 over the three games that included two one-run contests.
>> Led by fourth-year head coach Carie Dever-Boaz, the Tigers are making their 19th appearance in the GSC Tournament, winning six titles with their last coming in 1997. They currently rank 6th in the GSC in earned run average (3.41), walking just 76 batters over 328.1 innings pitched. They are tied for 8th in the league in fielding percentage (.952) and rank 10th in the conferene in batting average (.278).
>> Kacy Noland (.360) is the team's top hitter, pacing the squad with nine doubles and 54 total hits. Kierra Hague (.349) has a team-high seven home runs with .575 slugging percentage. Allli Craft (.328) leads the team with 33 RBI, while Kendall Johnson (.245) has a team-best 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts
>> Nora Keehn (15-9, 2.58 ERA) paces the pitching staff, leading the team in innings pitched (165.1), strikeouts (91) and complete games (16). She has tossed complete games in 16-of-27 starts with two shutouts. Carleigh Mills (5-4, 4.03 ERA) is second on the team in innings pitched (57.1) and strikeouts (38).
#6 WEST GEORGIA (28-26, 14-16 GSC)
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>> The Wolves, out of Carrollton, Ga., come into the GSC Tournament as the #6 seed and currently sit 10th in the NCAA South Region rankings. They come in as one of the hottest teams in the league, winning 9-of-13 to close out the regular season, including a road series win over Valdosta State. UWG swept a series from Union prior to the VSU victories and needed those wins down the stretch to jump up into the postseason.
>> Led by third-year head coach Al Thomas, the Wolves are making their 18th appearance in the GSC Tournament and are still looking for their first title. UWG is the 2nd-best fielding team in the conference with a .972 fielding percentage and just 41 errors in 54 games. They are also 5th in the league in earned run avearge (3.26), sitting 3rd in the league with 265 strikeouts. UWG ranks 11th in the conference in batting average (.269).
>> Hannah Scarbrough (.366) is the only Wolves' regular to hit over .300 on the season, leading the squad with 15 doubles, 29 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, and a .506 slugging percentage. Madison Chambers (.263) leads the team with seven home runs and 30 RBI, starting 32-of-54 games on the season.
>> Katie Foote (7-6, 2.37 ERA) leads the team in earned run average, giving up just 96 hits in 94.2 innings pitched. Morgan Goree (9-9, 3.18 ERA) has a team-high 113 strikeouts in 119.0 innings pitched, leading the squad with 10 complete games. Raya Moncus (6-8, 4.14 ERA) has also tossed 86.1 innings in 14 starts.
#7 UNION (29-23, 14-16 GSC)
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>> The Bulldogs, out of Jackson, Tenn., come into the GSC Tournament as the #7 seed. They won four of their last five games heading into the tournament, sweeping a doubleheader from Lane before taking 2-of-3 games from Christian Brothers in the regular season finale. Prior to the 4-of-5, the Bulldogs had dropped 9-of-10 that included series sweeps at the hands of West Florida and West Georgia.
>> Led by first-year head coach Mackenzie Sher, the Bulldogs are making their second trip to the GSC Tournament. They are hitting .309 on the season as a team, ranking third in the league behind UAH and UWF. Union is fourth in the league in doubles (77) and have scoreed 295 runs on the season. They rank 9th in earned run average (4.28) and are 6th in fielding percentage (.959).
>> Kaitlyn Kelley (.432) is the team's top hitter, pacing the squad with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, 53 runs scored and 61 RBI. Haley Barnette (.414) is just behind with 14 doubles, 13 long balls and 52 runs batted in. Alyssa Ward (.307) leads the team with 23 stolen bases in 25 attempts, followed closely by Harley Bartholomew (.327) with 19 swipes.
>> Gabby Morris (11-15, 4.01 ERA) leads the team in innings pitched (143.0) and strikeouts (123), also tossing a team-high eight complete games in 26 starts. Parker Davis (12-8, 4.85 ERA) is second on the squad with 134.1 innings pitched and 90 strikeouts, tossing six complete games in 20 starts.
#8 DELTA STATE (22-23, 12-18 GSC)
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>> The Lady Statesmen, out of Cleveland, Miss., come into the GSC Tournament as the #8 seed, edging out Montevallo for the final spot in the conference postseason. DSU went just 3-14 over the final 17 games, but pushed the Lady Choctaws in the final series of the season, picking up a win and playing three games within three runs. They were swept by West Florida and West Alabama while dropping series to MC, Lee and UAH over the final stretch.
>> Led by 11th-year head coach Casey Bourgoyne-Charles, the Lady Statesmen are making their league-high 32nd appearance in the GSC Tournament, winning a title back in 1992. They currently rank 4th in the league in fielding percentage (.961) and are 7th in earned run average (3.73). DSU also sit 9th in the league in batting average (.279), tallying 29 home runs in 45 games.
>> Kelly Byrd (.418) leads the DSU offense in batting average, home runs (8) and runs scored (38). She has also posted 12 doubles and a team-high 51 hits with a .713 slugging percentage. Jordan Jones (.343) leads the squad with 13 doubles and 44 RBI, while Ta'Mya Johnson (.273) has a team-best 12 stolen bases and has driven in 32 runs.
>> Nicole Fullilove (12-14, 2.92 ERA) has anchored the pitching staff this season, tossing over half the team's innings (160.2) with a team-high 129 strikeouts and 18 complete games in 27 starts. Mari Alex Sandridge (8-6, 4.87 ERA) is second on the team in innings pitched (86.0) and strikeouts (48).
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.
#MC#
