GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI – The University of Incarnate Word softball team is set to travel to Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic this weekend. The tournament starts on Friday with a game against IPFW starting at 10 a.m., followed by the second game of the day against Jackson State at 12:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Cardinals play two more games starting with Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m., followed by Mississippi State in the nightcap with a 5:30 p.m. start time. The final game of the tournament will take place on Sunday at 10 a.m. against Southern Mississippi.
The Cardinals (3-8) enter the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic on a two game winning streak following back-to-back victories against Alcorn State last weekend. As a team, UIW is currently hitting .263 and the team has collected 67 hits in the first 11 games of the season.
Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) leads the Cardinals in batting average at .462 and has scored six runs.
Kellen Robles (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) is starting to heat up at the plate and she is currently second on the team in hits with seven to go along with two RBI's.
In the pitching circle,
Bridget Stein (Brenham/Brenham HS) leads the Cardinals pitching staff with two wins on the season and she also leads the team in innings pitched with 17.0.
Sarah Leal (Kyle/Hays HS) has done a great job for the Cardinals as a relief pitcher and she has only allowed one earned run in her last 7.2 innings pitched to go along with seven strikeouts.
The IPFW Mastodons enter the tournament with a 2-7 record so far on the season. As a team, they are hitting .241 with a .365 on-base percentage. The Mastodons currently have three players that are hitting over .300 led by Kelly Pevely who is hitting .423 with three home runs and four RBI's. Jessica Murray is second on the team in hitting with a .389 batting average and four RBI's. The top pitcher for IPFW is Sarah Lazarowich who is 1-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 23.2 innings.
Jackson State enters the tournament with a 1-4 record. Canessa Swanson leads the team in hitting with a .615 batting average and she has one home run and five RBI's. Sarah Gore is also hitting very well for the Tigers with a .455 batting average and a home run. Merina Young is the ace with a 1-2 record and a 3.91 ERA in 14.1 innings. The Tigers are hitting .244 as a team with a slugging percentage of .331.
Mississippi Valley State has started the season with a 1-9 record. Deja Talton is leading the team offensively with a .455 batting average and three RBI's. Kailyn Dunn is leading the team in RBI's with five and she is second on the team with eight hits. Leading the pitching staff for MVS is Rebekah Clinton who is 0-5 with a 6.15 ERA in 27.1 innings. Overall, the team is hitting just .196 for the season.
Mississippi State enters the weekend unbeaten at 9-0 to start the season. The Bulldogs have six players that are hitting over .300. Emily Heimberger leads the team in hitting with a .476 batting average and has three RBI's. Loryn Nichols comes into the tournament hitting .400 with five runs scored. The Bulldogs are hitting .295 as a team and have 72 hits in just nine games. Holly Ward is the ace of the staff with a 5-0 record and a 0.49 ERA in 28.1 innings. Ward also has three complete games and she has only allowed two earned runs.
Southern Mississippi has started the season with a 6-5 record. Rachel Johnson leads the Golden Eagles in hitting with a .480 batting average and 11 runs scored. Katie Cleary leads the team with 13 runs batted in and is also hitting .333 for the season. Samantha Robles is the ace of the Golden Eagles pitching staff with a 3-2 record and a 3.09 ERA in 43.0 innings pitched. She also has four complete games in six starts. Southern Mississippi is hitting .268 as a team.
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