May 10, 2009

(courtesy MVSU Sports Information) - The Mississippi Valley State Devilettes - six-time defending SWAC softball champions- will take on University of Alabama in their opening game of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.  The Devilettes will participate in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama regional.  Action will take place May 15-17 in Tuscaloosa.

"We had an excellent season, but now it is time for (us) to go back to work," said MVSU head coach Lee Smith.  "We did not work all season just to win a conference championship.  We looked forward to this particular moment - to playing in the NCAA Tournament.”

Mississippi Valley State (37-14) have put together the most successful season in the program's history.  The team had four win streaks of at least six games – including a streak of ten consecutive wins, including four in the 2009 SWAC Tournament.

The Devilettes will feature the SWAC Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year in junior Lisa Jansen.  Jansen registered a 14-7 overall record with an earned run average of 2.85 and 134 strikeouts.  Leading the offensive charge is Ta'Niya Wallace and Rashundra Brass.  Wallace leads the team with a .413 batting average and five triples while Brass is bating .404 with 49 runs scored and 35 RBI.

The Tide (47-9) were one of the top teams in the nation this season.   The third-ranked Tide fell in the Southeastern Conference championship game to No. 1 Florida by the score of 8-5 Saturday afternoon at Lee Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus.

Charlotte Morgan leads the team with a .414 batting average and 52 runs batted in.  On the mound, Kelsi Dunne has a 24-3 record with a 1.45 ERA and 218 strikeouts.

The Deviletes and the Tide last met in the 2006 NCAA tournament with the Tide picking up a 8-0 win.  MVSU and Alabama also met twice earlier this season.

"We faced Alabama in March and we had some good hitting against them,” Smith said. “One thing stands out in this matchup - we are familiar with them and they are familiar with us.”

Texas (38-18) and Chattanooga (30-22) will also participate in the regional.