LIVE STATSDURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will return to action looking to bounce back and strengthen its hold on the top spot in the Great American Conference standings when it hosts Southwestern Oklahoma State April 18-19 at the Southeastern Softball Field.
The four-game series will feature a 2 p.m. double-header on April 18 and another twin bill at noon on April 19.
The Savage Storm come into the series still holding onto first place in the league standings with a 22-9 conference record along with a 29-13 overall mark.
That lead narrowed last weekend as the Storm suffered its first-ever series loss since the formation of the GAC, dropping three of four games at Northwestern Oklahoma State which narrowed SE's hold on the top spot to a half game with eight games remaining on the conference schedule.
SWOSU comes into the series in 11
th in the GAC standings, in danger of missing out on advancing to the league's postseason tournament as they are four-games back of the eighth-place team with a 7-25 conference record and an 11-33 mark overall.
Southeastern continues to feature a trio of .400 hitters, led by
Sydney Kramer who is batting .408 on the year with 14 doubles and 37 RBI.
Laramie Beal and
Jessica Simmons are right behind with matching .402 averages, with Beal leading the team in homers with eight and matching Kramer's RBI total at 37, while Simmons has 14 doubles, a triple, a homer, 40 runs scored and 25 stolen bases.
Haley Strawn is fourth in line with a .362 average and has lifted her home run total to five on the year with 31 RBI.
Mindy McElroy leads the pitching staff with a 16-6 record and a 2.37 ERA in 27 appearances with nine complete games, three shutouts, two saves and 42 strikeouts.
The Bulldogs come to town in the middle of a four-game losing streak, all coming at the hands of East Central, while the team has also dropped 11 of its last 12 contests.
SWOSU is led on offense by Adrienne Martinez who is hitting .404 on the year with 18 doubles, five home runs and 34 RBI.
Three other hitters are over .300, with Nikki Brandt added 28 RBI and three homers.
Julianne Martinez leads the pitching staff with a 4.23 ERA and a 6-16 record in 24 appearances with 17 complete games and 99 strikeouts.
