NCAA CENTRAL REGION – DAY 2
#3 Missouri Western (44-11) vs. #2 Southern Arkansas (47-9)
Friday, May 6 – 1 p.m. | Dawson Field at the Mulerider Softball Complex | Magnolia, Ark.
 
IMPORTANT LINKS
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL PAGE | MWSU SEASON STATS | SAU SEASON STATS
 
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Wins by the higher seeds on the opening day of the Central 2 Regional tournament set up a Friday matchup between second seed, and host, Southern Arkansas and three seed Missouri Western.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
MWSU
- MIAA regular season and tournament champions in its ninth regional since 2005
- 5-2 win over Minnesota Duluth on Thursday snapped a seven game losing streak in regional openers dating back to 2005
- Head coach Jen Bagley Trotter and Griffon Softball hold 7-16 all-time record in the regional
- Teams have faced off once before in a regional – 2014, Missouri Western won 5-0
- Currently ranked No. 11 in NFCA Coaches' Poll
SAU
-  Won GAC Tournament after finishing second in regular season standings
- Defeated Central Oklahoma, 2-0 on Thursday; with two-hit complete game shutout by Kimmy Beasley (23-4)
- The Muleriders are in their second regional in the last three years and second ever regional appearance
- Ranked No. 15 in NFCA Coaches' Poll
 
TEAM COMPARISON
MWSU
- Batting avg: .315
- Runs: 320 (5.8/game)
- Doubles: 91; Triples: 12; HR: 52
- Walks: 166; Strikeouts: 211
- Stolen bases: 55-66
- Errors: 51; Fielding %: .970
- ERA: 2.40
- Runs allowed: 162
- Walks: 123; Strikeouts: 234
- Opp. Batting avg.: .245
SAU
- Batting avg: .319
- Runs: 340 (6/game)
- Doubles: 82; Triples: 5; HR: 64
- Walks: 207; Strikeouts: 182
- Stolen bases: 13-19
- Errors: 41; Fielding %: .971
- ERA: 1.69
- Runs allowed: 162
- Walks: 82; Strikeouts: 384
- Opp. Batting avg.: .196
 
TEAM LEADERS
MWSU
- Batting avg: Morgan Rathmann (.399)
- Runs: Rathmann (54)
- Hits: Rathmann (79)
- Doubles: Paige Shifflett (16)
- Triples: Rathmann (9)
- Home Runs: Kailey Green (14)
- RBI: Taylor Hamilton (49)
- Slg%: Green (.654)
- Walks: Green (26)
- OB%: Rathmann (.450)
- SB: Rathmann (25-30)
- Wins: Janie Smith (23)
- ERA: Shyanne Saladino (2.04)
- Shutouts: Smith (9/1)
- Strikeouts: Smith (141)
SAU
- Batting avg: Darian Harris (.400)
- Runs: Brooke Goad (58)
- Hits: Harris (68)
- Doubles: Harris (16)
- Triples: Liz Hudgins & Harris (2)
- Home Runs: Goad (20)
- RBI: Maddie Dow (49)
- Slg%: Goad (.802)
- Walks: Goad (47)
- OB%: Goad (.509)
- SB: Goad (4)
- Wins: Kimmy Beasley (23)
- ERA: Beasley (1.11)
- Shutouts: Beasley (9/2)
- Strikeouts: Beasley (199)
 
THE COACHES
MWSU: Jen Bagley Trotter
- 15^th season; all at MWSU
- Career record: 534-304
- 4x MIAA Coach of the Year
- 2x MIAA Regular Season Champion
- 2x MIAA Tournament Champion
- 9 regional appearances, all since 2005
SAU: Jason Anderson
- 2^nd season at Southern Arkansas
- 73-33 at Southern Arkansas; 380-106 in eight seasons as a head coach
- Head coaching stints at Central Baptist College, North Alabama and Northwest Oklahoma State
 
UP NEXT
- Winner advances to tournament championship on Saturday at 1 p.m.
- Loser plays winner of Minnesota Duluth, Central Oklahoma, Friday at 5:30 p.m. – loser of that game is eliminated; winner advances to championship
- Central Region 2 Tournament winner will face winner of Central Region 1 Tournament in best of three series to be played May 11 & 12 at site of higher seed