SWOSU (2-4) at Midwestern State Round Robin
Friday, Feb. 10 - Sunday, Feb. 12
Wichita Falls, Texas (Mustang Park)
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Setting the Scene
- SWOSU Softball will play five games in Wichita Falls, Texas, this weekend as part of the Midwestern State Round Robin
- On Friday evening, the Dawgs will meet the tournament host, Midwestern State, in a game set for 7:30 pm before taking on Colorado Mines and Southwest Baptist on Saturday
- The Bulldogs conclude the event on Sunday with contests against Missouri S&T and Newman
- SWOSU enters the weekend with a record of 2-4 after earning wins over Eastern New Mexico and Central Missouri during the Southeastern Regional Invitational last weekend in Durant
- All five contests this weekend are against teams from the South Central Region, but they will be deemed in-region games for the Bulldogs due to each opponent being located in a neighboring state
The Opponents
Midwestern State: 3-5 (Three losses to ranked teams)
Colorado Mines: 0-0 (Will be opening 2017 season this weekend)
Southwest Baptist: 0-0 (Will be opening 2017 season this weekend)
Missouri S&T: 0-2 (Swept by GAC member Harding in a doubleheader on Feb. 4)
Newman: 2-4 (Won their last two games at the Southern Arkansas Invitational last weekend)
The Coaches
SWOSU: Kim Maher (2-4, 1st season)
- Named the fourth head coach in SWOSU Softball history on June 2, 2016, bringing with her a wealth of experience from the collegiate, professional and international levels of softball
- Spent eight seasons as the head coach at Purdue University, leading the Boilermakers to 240 victories and two NCAA Tournament appearances from 2006-13
- Previously coached at California-Berkeley as an assistant coach from 2000-05 following a playing career with USA Softball and the Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL)
Checking the Standings
- Two GAC teams – Harding and Southern Arkansas – made it out of the opening weekend unscathed, with Harding 2-0 while SAU is currently 4-0
- East Central (5-1), Arkansas Tech (3-1) and Ouachita (3-1) each suffered one defeat and they're all at least two games above .500 currently
- At 2-4, SWOSU has the eighth-best mark in the lead, ahead of two teams with one victory and two that have yet to play a game in 2017
SWOSU Notes
- SWOSU used several different players on the opening weekend as the Bulldogs look to sort out a regular rotation early in the season
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Paige Bowler started and played in four games, hitting a team-leading .545 with six hits and one run scored while also drawing four walks
-
Tori Hawk had six hits and scored six runs with four RBI while hitting .400 at the Southeastern Invitational
- Four other players –
Keanni Barron,
Samantha Householder,
Taya Haney,
Bailey King – hit .300 or better and helped the Bulldogs to a team batting average of .259 on opening weekend
- Five different pitchers saw action in the circle last weekend, with
Kaytlin Donaldson leading the way with a 1.83 ERA and 1-0 record in three appearances
- Also making three appearances were
Taya Haney (1-1, 4.75 ERA, 17.2 IP) and
Taylor Eaves (0-3, 5.88 ERA, 8.1 IP)
Looking Ahead
- SWOSU Softball is off next weekend as they prepare for the beginning of Great American Conference play on February 24-25 against Harding in Weatherford at the Athletic Complex
