Softball Opens Campaign With Best On The Bayou Classic

MONROE, La. – The Mississippi Valley State University softball program will head to Monroe, Louisiana this weekend for its first five games of the 2022 season, beginning with a Friday matinee versus Syracuse at 12:30 p.m. and concluding Sunday against Louisiana Tech at 1:30 p.m.

What You Need to Know 

• Time and Date (Syracuse): Friday, February 11 (12:30 p.m.)

• Time and Date (Louisiana-Monroe): Friday, February 11 (6:30 p.m.)

• Time and Date (Evansville): Saturday, February 12 (12:30 p.m.)

• Time and Date (Jacksonville State): Sunday, February 13 (11:15 a.m.)

• Time and Date (Louisiana Tech): Sunday, February 13 (1:30 p.m.)

• Video: N/A

• Audio: N/A

• Live Stats (Louisiana Tech Only): http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=latc

• Tickets: N/A

• 2021 Records: Mississippi Valley State (4-21, 3-12 SWAC) | Syracuse (20-24, 12-20 ACC) | Louisiana-Monroe (17-32, 6-15 Sun Belt) | Evansville (23-22, 11-14 MVC) | Jacksonville State (24-25, 21-13 OVC) | Louisiana Tech (22-30, 10-10 C-USA)

• Location: Monroe, Louisiana – Ouachita Sportsplex

• Series History: N/A

• Last Meeting: N/A

• Winning Streak: N/A

Returners:

• #0 Naomi Drake
  • Started 11 games in 19 appearances, batting .250 with nine hits, seven RBIs, four doubles and a walk.

• #1 Daisy Page
  • Made five starts over eight appearances with six strikeouts while picking up a win during 27 innings pitched.

• #2 Keisha White
  • Ranked second in the SWAC for slugging percentage (.612) and fifth in home runs (4) while leading the team on four-baggers plus triples (2). She tallied three multi-hit games, two multi-RBI contests and at one point had a seven-game hitting streak.

• #3 A’Tajua Wren
  • Made four starts over 12 appearances while leading the Devilettes in innings pitched (46.0), strikeouts 27) and batting average against (.307).

• #4 Karlee Schierbeek
  • Made nine starts over 12 appearances with five hits, four walks and a run scored.

• #6 Laeni Terrones
  • Made 11 starts over 15 appearances with five hits, two runs scored, a double, a walk and a stolen base.

• #7 Shelby Carson
  • Made nine starts over 14 appearances and tied for the team lead with two triples. She registered seven hits, three runs scored, two triples, a double, a walk and an RBI.

• #13 Ashlyn Matthews
  • Made seven starts over ten appearances with a complete game and a save. She struck out 15 hitters in 28.2 innings pitched.

• #15 Jaylon Davis
  • Was a 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Second Teamer and ranked second for doubles per game (0.29), sixth for doubles (8) plus ninth in slugging percentage in the SWAC for 2021. She led the Devilettes in batting average (.311), on-base percentage (.409), total bases (42), runs scored (17), RBIs (15), walks (8) and doubles (8).

• #22 Demi Slater
  • Was on the 2021 Peseason All-SWAC First Team and made 19 starts over 24 appearances. She produced ten hits, six runs scored, five walks, two RBIs and a double.

• #23 Kathleen Sims
  • Made six starts over 13 contests with four runs scored, three hits, two walks and an RBI.

• #24 Cailyn Peterson
  • Made 22 starts while appearing in all 25 games with 16 hits, 14 RBIs, seven runs scored, six doubles, six walks and a homer.

• #25 Kayla Sanchez
  • Made 17 starts over 22 appearances with eight hits, eight walks, seven RBIs, four runs scored and three doubles.

• #26 Brianna Alston
  • Made the 2022 Preseason All-SWAC Second Team while ranking sixth in the conference with a .338 batting average and leading the team in hits (24) as well as the longest hitting streak (13).

• #42 Sydney Wesley
  • Made 13 starts over 21 appearances with nine runs scored, eight hits, five walks, four RBIs and a stolen base.

• #99 Aleyah Munford
  • Played in one game with two plate appearances.

Losses:

• Jewel Unga
  • Transitioned from player to Graduate Assistant, played in 38 games with 30 starts during her career including 13 hits, nine walks, five RBIs, four doubles and a home run. She was never caught stealing in three attempts and logged a .950 field percentage behind the plate.

• Mercedes Silva
  • Notched three of the team’s four wins in the circle, led the team in appearances (13), starts (8), complete games (4) and ERA (6.35) with 16 strikeouts.

• Ayana Taylor
  • Appeared in five games, batting .250 with two hits in eight at-bats.

Newcomers:

• #8 Morgan Gutierrez
  • Struck out 389 batters while hitting .304 during her tenure at Incarnate Word High School, earning two selections to the 6A All-District First Team and a 6A All-State selection.

• #9 Breeauna Troup
  • Had a batting average of .366 while being awarded the Varsity Team MVP for Long Beach High School in 2019 and earning a trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast All Star Game.

• #11 Jade Smith
  • Logged a perfect fielding percentage while raking in a .468 batting average as she made the All-League squad in 2019 at Rosemont High School.

• #12 Aulora Edwards
  • Was a two-time All-Region performer along with two selections to the All-County Second Team as she hit .317 with an on-base percentage of .453 for Newton High School.

• #20 MyKaila Fleming
  • Led Junipero Serra High School to a 2018 CIF Championship with her taking home the All-Division Rookie of the Year that season. She also claimed three All-State First Team selections.

• #21 Alina Salazar-Bowens
  • Piled up the accolades at Copperas Cove High School in 2019, making All-District First Team, TGCIA 6A All-State Team, named Best Offensive Player and Team MVP as a catcher on top of an All-District Second Team slot in 2018.

• #37 Kyler Espadron
  • N/A

*All stats are from the 2021 season unless stated otherwise.

Follow the Delta Devils and Devilettes on Facebook (Mississippi Valley State Athletics), Twitter (@MVSUDevilSports) and Instagram (@MVSUDevilSports).

 
#ValleyInMotion | #ForkEm | #LitBena