Softball Opens Season at Millsaps

2/1/2018 2:29:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Just as they did to begin the 2017 season, Louisiana College softball begins the 2018 season with a doubleheader against Millsaps College, only this time the games will be played in Mississippi. Friday's pair will be the first two games in the head coaching career of Wildcats' skipper Bobby Buchanan as he takes over a team of veterans with a lot of game experience. First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. with game two expected to begin at 5 p.m.

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Millsaps

Millsaps finished the 2017 season with a 26-15 record, and earned an appearance in the Southern Athletic Association tournament championship game, falling to Berry College 4-2. The Majors return both their top hitter and pitcher from last year's successful team, both Louisiana natives. MK Bozeman, from Bossier City, led the team with a .355 batting average in 41 games, driving in 14 runs and scoring 20 of her own.

In the circle, senior pitcher Kayla Davidson, from Slaughter, La., boasted a 1.48 earned run average in 23 starts and a 16-6 record. She struck out 193 batters in 152.1 innings and held opponents to a .173 batting average. In the season opening game of 2017 against LC, Davidson through 6.0 innings, allowing three runs, two of them earned, on four hits with six strike outs in a 3-1 loss to the Wildcats.

Louisiana College

While it may be the first pair of games for the first-time head coach, it will not be the first time out for many of the Wildcat starters. Expected to make her 69th career start will be reigning American Southwest Conference Pitcher of the Year, Savannah Settle. The senior from Natchitoches topped the conference with 151 strikeouts last season and finished second in earned run average, opposing batting average, and innings pitched. During the season she threw a 5.0 inning no-hitter against Howard Payne, and the first perfect game of her career against Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The dynamic top of the lineup duo of Shelby Bergeron and Sami Walters that set the table so often during the season for the Wildcats returns for another season. Bergeron's speed helped her break the single season steals record a year ago with the career mark within her sights with still two more seasons to go for the junior from Morgan City. The heart of the lineup will be occupied by one of the best pure hitters in school history, senior Mattie Stine. She set the school season record with a .441 batting average last year and will have even more help in the middle of the order with addition of big bats from Abby Sterling and Samantha Cetta, two transfers to the Wildcats this season.

The Wildcats will have just a handful of games to get the lineup and defensive alignment sorted out before the difficult ASC schedule begins with a three game series against rival East Texas Baptist on February 16. LC will play the pair this week against Millsaps then host Centenary for two games February 13 before the ASC opener with the Tigers that weekend. Stay connected to Louisiana College softball all season by following @LC_sftball on Twitter or liking Louisiana College softball on Facebook. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Wildcats on Facebook.

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