Setting the Scene
- SWOSU Softball hits the road to Arkansas where they will battle Henderson State in another conference series altered to a Saturday/Sunday slate
- The Bulldogs are coming off a game-one win against Oklahoma Baptist last weekend, but didn't have a chance to finish the series after weather forced the cancellation of the final three games
- Coming into the new weekend, Henderson State sits fifth in the Great American Conference standings while the Bulldogs are 11th
- Last season, SWOSU and Henderson State split the regular season series with an even 2-2 record
 
The Opponent
Henderson State (24-17, 16-14 GAC)
- Around the league, the Reddies rank sixth in team batting average (.294), fifth in team earned run average (3.44), and fourth in fielding percentage (.968)
- HSU is led at the plate by Madie Green who has a team best 49 hits in 127 at-bats (.386) including seven home runs and 29 runs scored
- In the circle, Sydney Bonner has logged a team high 105.1 innings and holds a 9-8 record with a 3.76 ERA
 
The Coaches
SWOSU: Kim Maher (24-64, 2nd season)
- Enters year two of her time at the helm of SWOSU Softball looking to continue the rebuilding process of the program
- 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)
 
Henderson State: Beth Jackson (267-270, 10th season)
- Since her arrival to Henderson, Jackson has guided her teams to eight conference tournaments, including six-straight Great American Conference Tournament appearances
- Her 267-270 record includes leading the 2015 Reddies to a 43-15 record – the most wins in school history
 
SWOSU Notes
- Hannah Morris made a strong return to the lineup last week after finishing 5-for-10 at the plate in three games for the Dawgs
- Morris also leads the team in stolen bases, swiping 11-of-13 bags this year
- Amanda Moreno, rankings fifth on the team in batting average at .333, is second in stolen bases with a perfect 9-for-9 mark this year  
- Kinsey Skroh continues to lead the Dawgs in hitting with a .386 batting average and a team high seven doubles on the year
- That batting average ranks Skroh tied for sixth around the entire Great American Conference
- With another pair of RBIs against OBU last Friday, Sidney Kirk continues to lead the team in runs batted in with 26
- Rileigh Ricken picked up her third win of the season (3-13) last Friday against Oklahoma Baptist when she threw all 7.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits
- Miranda Grover also has three wins on the year in 10 decision-based outings (55.0 IP)

Looking Ahead
- The Bulldogs will take on Northwestern in midweek rivalry action next Tuesday (April 17) before returning to Weatherford to host Ouachita in another conference series