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SWOSU (0-0) at Tartleton State (0-0) Stephenville, Texas (TexAnn Softball Complex) Monday, February 2, 3 PM/5 PM Live Stats: Game 1, Game 2 | Watch Live SWOSU Round Robin Weatherford, Okla. (Athletic Complex) Friday-Sunday, February 6-8 Live Stats SWOSU Weekly Notes

Setting the Scene
- Head coach Barbara Burnett leads the SWOSU softball team onto the field for the first time when they travel to Stephenville, Texas to take on Tarleton State on Monday, Feb. 2 at 3 PM
- It will be the first meeting between the two teams since SWOSU moved to the Great American Conference from the Lone Star Conference in 2011
- The Bulldogs will then make their home debut on Friday, Feb. 6 at 11 AM against the University of Science and Arts as part of the five-team SWOSU Round Robin
 
The Coach
Barbara Burnett (0-0, 1st year)
- Burnett returns to her alma mater to lead the Bulldog softball program for the first time this spring
- She has spent the last four seasons among the junior college ranks at Independence Community College in Independence, Kan. where she left as the all-time winningest coach in program history with a 112 wins
- While at Independence she led the Lady Pirates to back-to-back regional runners-up finishes while breaking numerous program records and ranking nationally in the Top Five in offensive production
- She has coached two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Americans, two National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans, 16 NJCAA All-Region selections and 13 All-Conference selections
 
The Opponents
Tarleton State
- The TexAnns posted a 20-30 record last season and are picked to finish sixth in the LSC in 2015
- TSU returns leading offensive threat Katelyn Conlee, who went .384 from the plate with a .674 slugging percentage that included four home runs. They also return three of their other four top batters
- Brenna Hennan returns to the rubber for the TexAnns for another year. She posted a 10-13 record last season with a team-leading 4.65 ERA
 
Science and Arts
- The Lady Drovers went 37-24 last year under the direction of head coach Jadyn Smith-Wallis
- Science and Arts returns the big bat of Taylor Smith who led the team in extra base hits. They also return leading hitter Kaylin Taylor who posted a .455 batting average
- USAO also returns their two leading pitchers, Tate Landmark and Jaci Booker, who combined for 173 strikeouts and a 29-17 record
 
Newman
- After posting a 16-29 record last season, the Jets will take the field under first year head coach Mike Viramontez and are tabbed for an eighth place finish in the Heartland
- Mikayla Medbury returns to lead the team at the plate after going .380 from the plate in her freshman season. She also boasted a team-high .535 slugging percentage
- Jensen Cromer will serve as the Jets' ace this season after earning a team-best 9-17 record last year while fanning 55 batters in her freshman campaign
 
Eastern New Mexico
- The Zias went 15-40 last season under head coach Kristen Soukup and are picked to finish ninth in the LSC this season
- Junior Marleyna Pinon is ENMU's leading hitter from last season and returns to the team after going .351 from the batter's box last season
- Vanessa Ramirez is the Zias' top returning pitcher. She went 1-4 last season and had a 6.19 ERA
 
Washburn
- Head coach Vanessa Becerra led the Ichabods to a 20-23 record last year and are ranked tenth in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Conference preseason coaches poll
- Marina Quimby is the top hitter returning this season, going .396 from the plate and got on base 44.4 percent of the time
- Samantha Carson returns to lead the team from the rubber. She posted an ERA of 4.61 and went 9-4 last season
 
Preseason Poll
- SWOSU was picked to finish tenth this season in the GAC preseason coaches poll after a disappointing 2014 season
- After winning the regular season crown the last two years, Southeastern Oklahoma State enters the year as the favorite to win the conference. They are also ranked fourth in the preseason National Fastpich Coaches Association (NFCA) poll
- 2014 GAC Tournament champion Southern Arkansas is picked third, while East Central rounds out the top three
- The other teams in order are: Henderson State, Harding, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Southern Nazarene, SWOSU and Ouachita Baptist
 
Bulldog Facts
- Reigning GAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-GAC selection Adrienne Martinez returns to anchor the defense from her first base position. She had a team-high 357 putouts with a .997 fielding percentage while starting 51 games
- Second Team All-GAC honoree Ashley Dunigan will look to increase her impact in her second season at SWOSU. The senior shared the team lead in assists with 103, while ranking third in putouts with 112. She also led the team with 28 stolen bases on 31 attempts
- Molly Vivo is the team's top returning pitcher. She started 15 of her 24 games last season while posting a 5.58 ERA. Opposing batters hit .314 against her last season, the second-best mark on the team
- Martinez and Dunigan will be the leading hitters returning to the plate for SWOSU. Martinez led the team with a .399 batting average while also leading the team in slugging (.626) and home runs (5). Dunigan was second on the team, going .328 at the plate
- Barbara Burnett has instilled her influence into the roster adding 15 new players with 11 junior college transfers, one four-year college transfer and three true freshmen
 
Looking Ahead
- SWOSU will take part in the Southeastern Regional Invitational in Durant, Okla. on Feb. 13-15