GULF SHORES, Ala. – After heavy rain forced the cancellation of their first two games, Midwestern State tries again to open the 17th season in program history on Saturday. The Mustangs are scheduled to play West Alabama at 2 p.m. and Mississippi College at 4:30 p.m. as part of the Gulf Shores Invitational.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting between Midwestern State and West Alabama. This is the also the first meeting between the Mustangs and Mississippi College.
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
The Mustangs were tabbed to finish 12th in the 2020 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll. MSU Texas received 327 votes from the ballots cast by the league's head coaches, sports information directors, and media representatives. The Mustangs return eight players from last year's squad that finished 22-19.
 
SEASON OPENERS
Midwestern State is 9-7 in season openers after defeating Southern Nazarene 12-4 (F/6) in the 2019 season opener at the TAK Hospitality College Softball Kickoff. Former MSU standout Misty Muniz finished 3-for-4 with seven RBI.

FAMILIAR FACES
Senior Lauren Lindgren, who became just the second Academic All-American in program history by claiming third team Google Cloud/CoSIDA honors last season, leads an MSU offense that collectively hit .260 with 34 home runs and 158 runs scored in 2019. The outfielder led the Mustangs with a .336 batting average. Other notable returnees include Ashley Turner who posted a .297 batting average and Kelsey Eropkin, who started all 41 games and hit .293. The Mustangs return only one player who saw action on the mound last season in senior Jessica Clark (0.2 innings).

FRESH FACES
The Maroon and Gold welcome nine newcomers to the program, including freshman Bailey Brenek who was named District 6-6A Catcher of the Year as a senior at Flower Mound High School and Hill College transfer Carson Solis, who hit .305 with 18 RBI for the Rebels last season.

SCOUTING THE FIELD
West Alabama, members of the Gulf South Conference (GSC), posted a 30-23 record last season, the program's first winning record since finishing 30-20 in 2013. The Tigers return all three players who hit over .300 last season in Kierra Hague (.347), Kacy Noland (.342), and Alli Craft (.309). In the circle, the Tigers will need to replace Nora Keehn, who graduated after finishing 17-10 with a 2.63 ERA. 

Mississippi College is fresh off a 40-win season that saw the Lady Choctaws advance to the NCAA South Regional championship game. The Lady Choctaws return their top four hitters from a season ago, including Annemarie Peavy (.342/6/35) and Shayla McKissock (.333/0/15). Sophomore RHP Hannah Creel is back in the circle after a debut season that saw the McComb, Mississippi native lead the team with 17 wins and a 2.34 ERA.
 
CATCHING UP WITH COACH RYAL
Mark Ryal begins his fourth season as head coach after serving in an interim capacity in 2017. Last season, Ryal guided the Mustangs to a 22-19 (13-17) record. The 22 wins marked the program's highest total since the 2016 season. Overall, the Dewar, Oklahoma native has compiled a 56-69 (32-58) record during his time in Wichita Falls.
 
UP NEXT
The Mustangs close out their stay in Alabama with a 9 a.m. game on Sunday against Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.).