vs. (1) Winona State WARRIORS (46-7)
Friday, May 9 @ 1 p.m. Â
Winona, Minn. (Alumni Field)
)
Leading Off
Riding the wave of a smoltering offense and outstanding pitching and defense, the Southern Arkansas softball team captured their first-ever conference championship as they won the 2014 GAC Softball Tournament Championship last weekend. The GAC Championship also punched their ticket to their first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament as they are the No. 8-seed in the Central Region and will be taking on top-seeded Winona State.
Statistically, the Lady Muleriders are led by a duo of outstanding Freshmen. Shelby Miller currently leads the team in average at .420 (86-of-205) while Maddie Dow leads the team in RBIs (60) and homeruns (20). Upperclassmen Sarah Higginbotham and Audrey Farfan have been contributors offensively as well as both are hitting over .300. In terms of pitching, the Lady Muleriders are likely to use a three-pitcher rotation with Miller, Hanna Gill, and Miranda Cuff all seeing time in the circle. Miller leads the staff in wins (15), innings pitched (203.0), and strikeouts (143). Gill is 12-4 with a 2.38 ERA in 94.0 innings pitched.
For the Warriors, they are led offensively by Jenny Nelson and Morgan Lintz . Both are hitting over .400 with Nelson leading the way at .421 (59-for-140). Nelson also leads the team in homeruns (17) and RBIs (70). In terms of pitching, WSU is paced by Hannah Lythberg and Ashley Walker. Both have sub-2.25 ERAs and have won at least 18 games. Lythberg is 22-3 with a 2.20 ERA while Walker is 18-4 with a 2.06 ERA.
Slugging it Out
Through 61 games of the season, the Lady Muleriders have showed their lineup has some potent power potential as they have clubbed out 152 extra-base hits. 69 of those left the yard while 81 have gone for doubles and two have gone for triples. As a team, the Lady Muleriders have a .482 slugging percentage.
Youth Movement
So far this season, head coach Corey Lyon has penned a familiar lineup each game and it is one that features a lot of young and talented players. Through 61 games, three true freshmen and three sophomores have seen regular action.
Gill returns as SAU's Ace
Having pitched just two seasons at SAU, junior starting pitcher Hanna Gill has already set nine school records and is on the cusp of adding several other records
to her name in 2014. Last year, Gill anchored the Lady Mulerider pitching rotation and her outstanding year in the circle landed her All- GAC First-Team honors.
It's Miller Time
Freshman utility player Shelby Miller has had a tremendous start to her collegiate career. A native of Brazoria, Texas, Miller currently leads the pitching staff in strikeouts (143), wins (15), and has a single-season record seven saves. While Miller has been good in the circle, she has been even better in the batter's box as she is first on the team with a .420 average (86-for-205). 29 of those hits have gone for extra-bases as she is third on the team in slugging% (.702).
Powered by Dow
Freshman designated player Maddie Dow has been the Lady Muleriders' top-power threat in their potent lineup as she has smashed a SAU and GAC single-season
record 20 homeruns. Dow has also leads the team in RBIs and has driven in 60 so far this season. Her 60 RBIs are a SAU and GAC single-season record.
Runs, Runs, Runs
Through 61 games this season, it has been evident that when the Lady Muleriders score more than two runs in a game, they have a great chance of winning. So
far, in games in which they have two or fewer runs, they are 1-13. When they have scored three or more runs in a game, they are 36-11, When they score 10 or more runs,
they are 6-0.Â
Milestone Win #350
The Lady Muleriders' 4-1 win over Ouachita Baptist in the series finale on March 1 not only gave SAU a series win, but it also gave the program their 350th win. The
program started at SAU in 1999.Â
Record-Watch
The 2014 Lady Mulerider softball team has enjoyed a record-setting season both from a team standpoint and from an individual one as well. The following are the
team and individual records that have the potential to be set this year.
• Batting Average (Team): ..................... .309 (518-for-1,679)
..................................record, .298 [469-for-1574] - (2005)
• Slugging Percentage (Team): ...................................... .482
............................................................record, .439 (2005)
• On-base Percentage (Team): ....................................... .377
.........................................................................360 (2005)
• Hit-by-Pitch (Team).......................................................... 50
record, 50 (2013)
• Batting Average (Ind.)....... .420 (86-for-205) - Shelby Miller
record, .392 (49-for-125) - Joanna Jones (2008)
• Slugging Percentage (Ind.)....................829 - Brooke Goad
record, .612 Tisha Thompson (2007)
• At-bats (Ind.).......................................... 205 - Shelby Miller
.................................. record, 205 - Lauren Fraizer (2005)
• Pitching Appearances (Ind.)..................... 44 - Shelby Miller
.......................................... record, 52 - Kayla King (2006)
• Putouts (Ind.).........................................356 - Darian Harris
................................... record, 409 - Chelsea Knox (2011)
Record-Breaking Performances
The 2014 Lady Mulerider softball team has enjoyed a record-setting season both from a team standpoint and from an individual one as well. The following are the team and individual records set so far this year.
Records Set:
• Games Played (Team):.......................... 61; prev. 59 (2012)
• Wins (Team):.......................................... 37; prev. 34 (2000)
• Runs Scored (Team): ........................ 328; prev. 272 (2005)
• At-bats (Team):............................. 1,679; prev. 1,574 (2005)
• Hits (Team):........................................ 518; prev. 469 (2005)
• Homeruns (Team): ................................ 69; prev. 50 (2006)
• Runs Batted In (Team): ..................... 302; prev. 236 (2005)
• Total Bases (Team): .......................... 810; prev. 691 (2005)
• Walks (Team):.................................... 143; prev. 139 (2002)
• Saves (Team): ........................................... 8; prev. 4 (2006)
• Innings Pitched (Team):............... 405.0; prev. 401.2 (2000)
• Most putouts (Team)L.................. 1,215; prev. 1,205 (2000)
• Games Playes (Ind.)...................................... 61 - Five Tied
..........................................prev. 60 - Kylee Crosek (2012)
• Games Started (Ind.)...................................61 - Three Tied
..........................................prev. 60 - Kylee Crosek (2012)
• Runs Scored (Ind.): ................................. 54 - Shelby Miller
prev. 47 - Lauren Fraizer (2005)
• Hits (Ind.): 86 - Shelby Miller
prev. 78 - Lauren Fraizer (2005)
• Homeruns (Ind.)........................................ 20 - Maddie Dow
prev. 15 - Brooke Goad (2014)
• Runs Batted In (Ind.)................................. 60 - Maddie Dow
prev. 50 - Tisha Thompson (2007)
• Total Bases (Ind.)................................... 144 - Shelby Miller
prev. 113 - Cassie Blackwood (2005)
• Walks (Ind.): 32 - Maddie Dow
prev. 30- Kayla King (2005)
• Saves (Ind.)................................................ 7 - Shelby Miller
prev. 4 - Cassie Blackwood (2004)
• Games Finished (Ind.)............................. 19 - Shelby Miller
prev. 18 - Cassie Blackwood (2004)
• Most Chances (Ind.): 426 - Darian Harris
prev. 425 - Chelsea Knox (2011)
|
