MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn Montgomery softball team will begin Gulf South Conference play this weekend when the Warhawks take part in the 2018 GSC Opening Weekend Festival, opening the weekend against Mississippi College and Union on Saturday before taking on North Alabama on Sunday.
 
About the Warhawks
The Warhawks are 3-1 on the season after going 25-18 last season in its first year transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II play. AUM returns nine players from last year's team, including two of its top pitchers and two of its best hitters. Sophomore Chanel Newcomer went 8-5 as a freshman last season with an earned run average of 2.37 while fellow sophomore Taylor Tiffany was 7-6 with a 2.50 ERA.
 
Senior outfielder Kalee Sparks started 42 of 43 games last season, recording a team-best 50 hits while also hitting for a team-best .397 batting average. Jaycie Walker also returns to the outfield this season after tallying 43 hits and hitting for a .316 average. Walker is also one of two Warhawks to start every game for the Orange & Black.
 
AUM's lone loss of the season came against #7 North Georgia, a 5-4 setback to the Nighthawks in eight innings. The Warhawks were scheduled to host the annual AUM Tournament this past weekend but was forced to cancel the event due to inclement weather in the Montgomery area.
 
About the Choctaws
MC is currently 3-3 on the season after going 35-20 in 2017 while winning the Gulf South Conference Championship. Sophomore outfielder Shayla McKissock currently leads the team in batting average with a mark of .438 while teammate Katherine Lee leads the team in hits with eight.
 
Pitcher Adrianna Morgan is 3-0 on the season, with eight strikeouts over 17.0 innings pitched. Morgan has allowed 12 runs on 19 hits while posting an ERA of 3.29.
 
About the Bulldogs
Union is 3-3 this season having won its last two contests in a row. The Bulldogs went 24-29 last season with an 8-25 mark in league play. Sophomore Gabby Morris leads the team in batting average with a mark of .579 over 19 plate appearances. She has tallied a team-high 11 runs batted in with four home runs and two doubles.
 
Morris also leads the pitching staff in starts and strikeouts, posting 22 K's over three starts while allowing only 10 runs on 18 hits over 16.0 innings for an ERA of 2.19.
 
About the Lions
North Alabama is 7-2 on the season after going 32-20 last season and earning a berth in the NCAA South Regional Tournament. The Lions are led offensively by senior outfielder Kara Brewer, who has posted a batting average of .444 while sophomore utility player Hannah Shollenberger leads the team in hits with 11.
 
Senior shortstop Reagan Tittle leads the team in RBI with seven while hitting two home runs and two doubles.
 
Freshman hurler Laken Distefano leads the pitching staff with a 1.11 ERA over five appearances (three starts). She has accrued 15 strikeouts over 19.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs on 14 hits.
 
Up Next
The Warhawks will host GSC foe Alabama Huntsville on Saturday, Feb. 24, for a three-game series at the AUM Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. for a doubleheader on Saturday before finishing out the series with a single game on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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