CONROE, Texas -- Midwestern State is opening the 2024 season on Friday morning at the D2 First Pitch Invitational. The Mustangs will face Colorado Mesa in the season opener at Scrap Yard Sports Complex at 10 a.m. before taking on Regis (Colo.) at 12:15 p.m.

The Mustangs also have a pair of games scheduled for Saturday. Midwestern State meets Central Washington at 10 a.m. and closes out the event with a 2:30 p.m. matchup against No. 19-ranked Rogers State.

Head coach Brittanie Talley, who is entering her third season at the helm of Midwestern State softball, says the Mustangs are competing in one of the nation's top tournaments to begin the season.

"It's who is willing to come down and play Lone Star Conference teams. They get really, really good teams. Rogers was the national champion two years ago. Mesa has been a traditional powerhouse in the RMAC. Everybody wants to beat the Lone Star, we're the ones with the target," Talley said.

The Mustangs, who won four of their final six games last season, will be tested early, and Talley likes the new additions on the ball club this season.

"We brought in some new kids — a couple that played for me before and one that came with Apdiel (Vazquez) — and they've just made a crazy difference in leadership," Talley said.

Assistant coach Apdiel Vazquez is new to the staff this season, and Talley says "he is super good with development, and his work ethic is insane."

Junior first baseman Myranda Jimenez played at Bethany College for two seasons under the direction of Vazquez. She earned the Kansas College Athletic Conference Gold Glove Award last season and hit .313 with 10 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 18 RBIs. Jimenez was honorable mention All-KCAC after appearing in 47 games last season.

Midwestern State has three freshman pitchers on the roster this season, including Addison Lindemann from Holliday, Texas.

"Addie is just amazing on and off the field," Talley says. "She is someone we hope to build around, moving forward. She does it all. She pitches. She hits. She knows the game, and she's always positive," Talley said.

Elizabeth Uhl is from Arvada, Colorado, and her pitches have good movement and good spin according to Talley.

"She throws a little harder, and her delivery is a little awkward, so it works," Talley said.

Shyanne Florence is from Humble, Texas, and a product of Atascocita High School. Talley likes her stuff and says the freshman hurler is "learning how to pitch and not throw."

Among the returning players are Sydney Shimkus, a junior utility player that led the team with a .287 batting average last season, and sophomore outfielder Allie Monroe, who led the Mustangs with 14 RBIs and hit .260 with a .390 slugging percentage as a freshman.

Midwestern State plays its home opener on Feb. 6 as East Central visits Mustangs Park for a doubleheader that gets underway at 2 p.m.

 

--MSUMustangs.com--