Softball 4/26/2018 2:50:00 PM Jordan Alves

Lady Tigers need one win to clinch; CU travels to No. 11 Lindsey Wilson in Battle of Highway 55

COLUMBIA, Ky. — Four games remain in the 2018 regular season and the fourth-ranked Lady Tigers are only one win away from clinching the eighth Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship in program history.

This weekend, the Battle of Highway 55 hits the diamond as No. 4 Campbellsville and No. 11 Lindsey Wilson do battle on Saturday-Friday, April 28-29, for the regular finale. First pitch on Saturday from Sparks Park is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and Sunday's doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. ET as well.

Coverage will begin on the Campbellsville University Sports Network starting at 1:45 each day.

Magic Number is one:
Campbellsville enters the series with a 39-6 overall record and 21-3 inside conference play. Lindsey Wilson boasts a 35-10 record and 15-5 inside the Mid-South. The Blue Raiders are not expected to make up their conference series with Georgetown, which was rained out to begin conference play in March.

The conference regular season championship is based on winning percentage when all games aren't able to be played in the conference schedule. So, with those make-up games not on the current schedule, the Lady Tigers need only one win to claim their eighth regular season title and first since 2016.

CU and LWC have dominated the Mid-South:
Since 2005, the Lady Tigers own a 40-26 record over Lindsey Wilson. Since 2009, the Lady Tigers and Blue Raiders have been two of the dominant programs in the Mid-South Conference. The two have teamed up for 13 regular season championships, including nine straight. Lindsey Wilson has five during that span with the Lady Tigers totaling four. In addition, the two shared the title in 2013.

The last time CU won the regular season came in 2016 – which was the last MSC Tournament title for the Lady Tigers as well. Lindsey Wilson won the regular season and tournament title four straight years from 2010 to 2013.

Outside of University of the Cumberlands last season and Georgetown College in 2009 and 2014, Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson have 11 of the last 14 tournament championships.

Both teams earn an NAIA Opening Round automatic bid:
For the second straight season, Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson both earned a NAIA Opening Round host bid from the national office. The Lady Tigers will once again co-host with the Bowling Green Convention and Visitor's Bureau at Michael Buchanon Park.

Lady Tigers look to finish strong:
Tori Humphrey is leading Campbellsville with a .396 average, 10 home runs and is second on the team with 44 RBI. The reigning MSC Freshman of the Year and MSC Softball Player of the week has had a stellar season on defense as well, ranking No. 4 in the NAIA in assists and No. 8 in assists per game (2.9)

In the last 24 games, all MSC contests, Jacqueline Roof has been on a tear. The senior from Paducah is hitting .446 in conference with six home runs and 21 RBI. Roof is also slugging .797 with six doubles, a triple, 10 walks and six hit-by-pitches during that span.

In the circle, Neely Quint fell victim to her first loss of the season last weekend. The senior from Brookport, Ill. boasts a 1.52 ERA and a 24-1 record. Her 1.52 ERA is second in the MSC, .241 opponent batting average is third, 157 innings is first and only 16 walks allowed is fourth.

Morgan Gailor upped her record to 14-5 – the most wins for her in a regular season for her – and her 1.92 ERA is fourth in the MSC. Opponents are hitting just .231 off Gailor, which is second in the conference and her 14 wins is tied for third behind Quint and Hannah Morton from Georgetown (16).

Scouting Lindsey Wilson:
Against Top 25 opponents this season, Lindsey Wilson has a record of only 1-2, while Campbellsville is 7-0.

The Blue Raiders lost three straight games in mid-April, falling in two games to Cumberland University and the series opener vs. Shawnee State. Since April 13, LWC has won six of the last season, including a pair of sweeps over Cumberland and Pikeville last week.

Newcome Alaeni Ray leads Lindsey Wilson with a .414 average, 11 doubles and .512 on-base-percentage.

Like Campbellsville, the Blue Raiders are also a power team with 44 home runs, including Sydney Forman's team-high 11 dingers and 39 RBI. LWC has out-scored opponents 272-126, while Campbellsville sits at 306-110.

In the circle, the Blue Raiders are led by Annabelle Ramirez' 11-6 record. Ramirez has made 15 starts and tossed 106 innings, while totaling an ERA of 2.05. In addition, LWC has Abby Whelen (5), Taylor Slade (8), Lauren Lett (7) and Hannah Epperson (7) starting in multiple games this season.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#17 Morgan Gailor: P; 5' 7"; Junior; Louisville, Ky.

#9 Tori Humphrey: INF; 5' 8"; Sophomore; Paducah, Ky.

#7 Neely Quint: P; 5' 6"; Senior; Brookport, Ill.

#20 Jacqueline Roof: INF; 5' 9"; Senior; Paducah, Ky.

Players Mentioned

#17 Morgan Gailor
: 5' 7"; Junior; Louisville, Ky.
: P

#9 Tori Humphrey
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; Paducah, Ky.
: INF

#7 Neely Quint
: 5' 6"; Senior; Brookport, Ill.
: P

#20 Jacqueline Roof
: 5' 9"; Senior; Paducah, Ky.
: INF