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Home , Delta State University, Gulf South Conference, North Alabama Lions

2015 Championship Tournament

April 30-May 2 Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park, Valdosta, Ga. www.gscsports.org | @GulfSouth | #GSCSB

HISTORY OF THE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE Academic excellence and a leadership role in the NCAA’s Division II make the Gulf South Conference (GSC) something special. The GSC is a charter member of Division II and enters its 45th year as one of the premier conferences at any NCAA level. In the summer of 1970, six college presidents met to discuss athletics; when the meeting ended, a new league emerged—the Mid-South Conference—started by, and to this day run by, the CEOs, the first in NCAA history. It is that CEO-control and involvement that makes the league work and its 14 championships (football; men’s & women’s cross country, men’s & women’s soccer; , men’s & women’s , men’s & women’s , men’s & women’s , softball and ) so intensely contested. From that point forward, the GSC has been giant steps ahead of the D-II pack. Beginning in 1997, the league found neutral sites paying size- able guarantees for most of its team championships. NCAA Conventions regularly feature GSC-proposed or -inspired legislation. No one wins more regionals or earns more NCAA post-season bids. In 2004, the league purchased its own built-to-its-specification office space. But the crowning moment came in 2005-06, when the GSC debuted its highly successful “GSC-TV Live” package which included nine football games (now 11) and its men’s & women’s basketball tournament finals. Add to that the branded “GSC DigiNet” video platform and the live-streaming of most of its championships, and you can see why the GSC is a Conference always taking advantage of new innovations. We take pride in our 49 National Team Championships in 13 sports and more than 100 regional titles, especially because there is no sacrifice on the academic side, where GSC student-athletes graduate a much higher rate than the general student body. Three GSC teams advance to NCAA Title contests in 2013-14 headlined by West Florida which hoisted its third all-time NCAA Men’s Tennis Title. Delta State, Florence State (now North ), Jacksonville State, Livingston (now West Alabama), Tennessee-Martin and Troy State were the charter members. Scheduling problems for the 1970-71 academic year limited the GSC to football, won by Jacksonville State. In 1971, the addition of Southeast Louisiana (SELA) and Nichols State increased the membership to eight. The league opened an office in Hammond, LA, changed its name to the Gulf South Conference and began championships in nine men’s sports. College and Northwestern Louisiana (NWLA, now Northwest- ern State) joined in 1972 and two years later, NELA left for Division I, followed by SELA and Nicholls State in 1979. The conference continued with seven teams until 1981, when the CEOs admitted Valdosta State and West Georgia (1983). In 1991, Tennes- see-Martin and Troy State went Division I, briefly dropping the GSC back to seven members. An aggressive expansion under the guidance of new Com- missioner Nate Salant resulted in 10 new members: Lincoln Memorial (1992-93); Alabama Huntsville, Henderson State, Central Arkansas and Missis- sippi University for Women (1993-94); West Florida (1994-95); and Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Montevallo and Southern Arkansas (1995-96). Jacksonville State moved to Division I at the end of 1992-93. dropped to Division III at the end of 1995-96, and was replaced by Christian Brothers to keep the Conference at 16 schools. In July 2000, the GSC welcomed and Ouachita Baptist University, making it the largest NCAA-playing conference at any level with 18 schools. MUW dropped its athletics program at the end of the 2002-03 season, decreasing the membership to 17. Central Arkansas reclassified to Division I and Lincoln Memorial moved to the South Atlantic Conference following the 2006-07 year. Montevallo’s departure for the dropped the number to 14. The GSC moved away from divisional play after the 2010-11 season after its six Arkansas members broke away, dropping the membership to eight. Thanks to an aggressive expansion plan, the GSC sponsored the Division II applications of (TN) and (GA), which became official members in 2014-15. The next step in bolstering its membership came in 2012, backing the Division II application of Lee Uni- versity (TN) which is on track to join the league officially in 2015-16. The league added its first-ever associate member, Florida Tech, in football only in 2013. The Conference hopes to officially add an old friend back into the fold when Mississippi College submitted its application to rejoin Division II and is on track for 2016-17 membership. Former Commissioner Jim McCullough brought the GSC office to Birmingham when he was hired in 1979. The Conference welcomed its sev- enth Commissioner in May, 2014 when Matt Wilson was selected to follow Nate Salant who retired after a 22-year stint. Wilson is assisted by Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Media Michael Anderson, Assistant Commissioner for Compliance Andrea Anderson and Media Relations Direc- tor Michael Stagno. The Chair of the GSC Board of Directors is Dr. John Smarrelli (Christian Brothers). Joining him on the Executive Committee are Vice-Chair Dr. William LaForge (Delta State) and Past-Chair Dr. Judith Bense (West Florida). The Supervisors of Officials are Jeff Roberson (Football), John Caldwell (Basketball), Mike McCray (Baseball) and Eric Ackerman (Soccer). GSC National Championships GSC Commissioners 1971-2014 (49) 1971-Present BASEBALL (6) WOMEN’S GOLF (3) Matt Wilson (2014-Present) West Florida (2011) Troy State (1984, ‘86, ‘89) Nate Salant (1992-2014) Delta State (2004) Sonny Moran (1987-1992) Troy State (1986, ‘87) WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS (2) Ralph McFillen (1984-1987) Jacksonville State (1990, ‘91) Jacksonville State (1984, ‘85) Hayden Riley (1982-1984) MEN’S BASKETBALL (3) HOCKEY (2) Jim McCullough (1979-1982) North Alabama (1979, ‘91) Alabama-Huntsville (1996, ‘98) Stan Galloway (1971-1979) Jacksonville State (1985) WOMEN’S SOCCER (2) WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (7) Christian Brothers (2002) Delta State (1975, ‘76, ‘77, ‘89, ‘90, ‘92) West Florida (2012) Southeastern Louisiana (1977*) SOFTBALL (1) FOOTBALL (11) Valdosta State (2011) Delta State (2000) North Alabama (1993, ‘94, ‘95) MEN’S TENNIS (5) Valdosta State (2004, ‘07, ‘12) Valdosta State (2006, ‘11) West Alabama (1971) West Florida (2004, ‘05, ‘14) Jacksonville State (1992) Troy State (1984, ‘87) TRACK (1) Southeastern Louisiana (1975) MEN’S GOLF (5) Troy State (1976, ‘77, ‘84) WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL (1) West Florida (2001, ‘08) North Alabama (2003) Current members in BOLD; *--Small College Division Champion

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 1 www.gscsports.org UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE CHARGERS Head Coach: Les Stuedman Current record at UAH: 931-290-1 (20th year)

Assistant Coach: Melanie Carter

No. Name Pos Ht Cl B/T Hometown 1 Victoria Frith IF 5-4 Sr. L/R Huntsville, Ala. 2 Kristin Chapman OF 5-5 Fr. R/R Vestavia Hills, Ala. 3 Kaitlyn Bannister IF/C 5-9 So. R/R Albertville, Ala. 5 Bailey King C 5-5 Fr. R/R Springville, Ala. 7 Victoria Crumpton OF 5-6 Fr. S/R Hatton, Ala. 8 Perri Gilbert OF 5-7 Fr. R/R Haleyville, Ala. 11 Savannah Smith 1B 5-7 Jr. L/L Guin, Ala. 12 Michal Robertson IF 5-7 Sr. R/R Northport, Ala. 14 Taylor Doriety P 5-10 So. R/R Hueytown, Ala. 15 Abby Roberts C 5-7 Jr. R/R Meridian, Miss. 16 Morgan Hopkins 2B 5-6 Sr. R/R Alexandria, Ala. 20 Brianna Sullivan OF 5-4 Jr. S/R Madison, Ala. 21 Emily Glover P/IF 5-5 So. R/R Scottsboro, Ala. 22 Kimberly Jack P 5-10 Jr. R/R Knoxville, Tenn. 25 Haley Thompson 2B/OF 5-4 So. R/R Hazel Green, Ala. 44 Tyler Harrison P/1B 5-8 So. L/L Mobile, Ala.

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 2 www.gscsports.org LADY STATESMEN Head Coach: Casey Bourgoyne-Charles Current record at DSU: 161-72 (7th year)

Assistant Coaches: David Martinez, Preslie Long, Raina Stiffler

No. Name Pos Ht Cl B/T Hometown 2 Kassidy Tally OF 5-8 Jr. L\R Raleigh, Miss. 3 Katelyn Westbrook OF 5-8 Jr. R\R Olive Branch, Miss. 4 Jessie Rodriguez INF 5-3 Jr. R\R Mont Belvieu, Texas 5 Rainer Hodges UTL 5-7 Fr. R\R Greenville, Miss. 6 Kara Lane Nowell UTL 5-4 So. R\R Louisville, Miss. 7 Amber Adcock INF 5-4 Sr. R\R Brandon, Miss. 8 Shayna Beaver P 5-9 Fr. R\R Paragould, Ark. 9 Madison Zoeller C 5-6 So. R\R Nashville, Tenn. 10 Kaitlin Moore OF 5-10 Jr. L\L Southaven, Miss. 11 Andrea Cutts UTL 5-8 Sr. R\R Ackerman, Miss. 12 Memrie Corley OF 5-7 Jr. S\R Carrollton, Miss. 13 Taylor Holland INF 5-8 Sr. R\R , Miss. 14 Katie Justice P/INF 5-6 Fr. R\R Jasper, Ala. 15 Kory Watterson INF 5-7 Jr. R\R Nesbit, Miss. 17 Ellen Tarrant INF 5-4 Sr. R\R New Albany, Miss. 20 Mariah Alvarez OF 5-5 Jr. L\R Saginaw, Texas 21 Brook Cline INF 5-4 Sr. R\R Frisco, Texas 22 Ashley Mrozinski UTL 5-5 Sr. L\R Roseville, Calif. 23 Taylor Tucker P 5-6 So. R\R Steele, Ala. 24 Brooke Watts P 5-7 Fr. R\R Zachary, La. 25 Taylor Johnson P/INF 5-7 Fr. L\R Long Beach, Miss.

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 3 www.gscsports.org UNIVERSITY OF Head Coach: Ashley Kozart Current record at UNA: 70-28 (2nd year)

Assistant Coaches: Whitney Hawkins, Emily Priar

No. Name Pos Ht Cl B/T Hometown 1 Hillary Carpenter P 5-6 So. L/L Hatton, Ala. 2 Harlie Barkley IF 5-3 Jr. R/R Florence, Ala. 3 Libby Olinger UT 5-7 Sr. R/R Decatur, Ala. 4 Reagan Tittle UT 5-7 Fr. R/R Lynn, Ala. 5 Ashton Edwards P 5-7 Fr. R/R Pulaski, Tenn. 6 Kaitlynn Wiggins IF 5-4 Sr. L/R Andalusia, Ala. 7 Courtney Shields OF 5-10 Jr. L/R Columbiana, Ala. 8 Brooklynn Clark 1B 5-10 Jr. L/L Seadrift, Texas 9 Brittany Gillison IF 5-6 Sr. L/R Pell City, Ala. 10 Bailey Nelson OF 5-4 Fr. L/R Florence, Ala. 11 BreeAnna Blevins P 5-5 Sr. R/R Piedmont, Ala. 12 Madeline Lee IF 5-5 Jr. R/R Alabaster, Ala. 13 Becca Winner C 5-6 So.. R/R Frostburg, M.D. 14 Peyton DeLong UT 5-5 Jr. R/R Beauregard, Ala. 15 Avery Godwin UT 5-5 Jr. R/R Bay Minette, Ala. 16 Brianna Caldwell IF 5-7 Fr. R/R Athens, Ala. 17 Carey Grace Peebles C/UT 5-10 So.. R/R Hatton, Ala. 18 Ashley Bonner OF 5-5 Sr. L/L Hartselle, Ala. 19 Carmen Whitfield C 5-7 Jr. R/R Lawrenceburg, Tenn. 20 Amy Carden OF 5-2 So. L/L Madison, Ala. 21 Tori Davis P 5-8 Fr. R/R Centre, Ala. 23 Hannah Harris OF 5-6 Sr. R/R Trinity, Ala. 24 Bailey Walker OF 5-5 So. R/R Louisville, Ky. 25 Mackenzie Roberts C/UT 5-7 Fr. R/R Tuscumbia, Ala.

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 4 www.gscsports.org SHORTER UNIVERSITY LADY HAWKS Head Coach: Al Thomas Current record at SU: 220-61 (5th year)

Assistant Coaches: Jessie Homesley, Jackie Castaneda, Christina Ezell No. Name Pos Cl Hometown 1 Niki Cook OF Fr. Buford, Ga. 2 Taylor Ann Oda OF Fr. Miliani, Hawaii 3 Janell Echols OF Jr. Rockmart, Ga. 5 Carson Carriker 2B Fr. Warner Robbins, Ga. 6 Kelsey Holoway 1B Fr. Cartersville, Ga. 8 Abi Valdes UTL Fr. Pembroke Pines, Fla. 10 Paige Rowland C/1B Sr. Eufaula, Ala. 12 Hannah Draper P Fr. Trinity, Ala. 13 Tori Etheridge UTL So. Knoxville, Tenn. 15 Kendall Johnson SS Jr. Chickamauga, Ga. 16 Kameron Carter UTL So. Sardis, Ala. 17 Ericka Bynum 3B/1B So. Ringgold, Ga. 18 Kalei Kimbrell P So. Chickamauga, Ga. 19 Amanda Blanchard P Fr. Royal Palm Beach, Fla. 21 Maggie Meacham OF Sr. Trussville, Ala. 24 Maddie Bray P/DH Sr. Hixson,Tenn.

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 5 www.gscsports.org UNION UNIVERSITY LADY BULLDOGS Head Coach: Heather Hall Current record at UU: 274-150 (8th year)

Assistant Coaches: Brooke Thomas, Shelby Lamb, Carlo Spencer

No. Name Pos Ht Cl B/T Hometown 00 Megan Wolinsky RHP 5-7 Fr. R/R Chickamauga, Ga. 1 Emily Bennett UT 5-6 Fr. R/R Dyersburg, Tenn. 3 Paige Taylor P/IF 5-2 Fr. R/R Memphis, Tenn. 6 Alli Gaddis C/OF 5-3 Jr. R/R Franklin, Tenn. 7 Alex Williams OF/P 5-8 Sr. R/L Milan, Tenn. 9 Caylee Crews IF 5-8 Jr. R/R Thompson Station, Tenn. 10 Madison Tennyson SS/OF 5-4 So. S/R Jackson, Tenn. 12 Reagan Schrader UT 5-2 Jr. R/R Ringgold, Ga. 14 Carlie Brickley OF 5-6 Fr. R/R San Diego, Calif 18 Kelly Robey P 5-10 Sr. R/R New Madrid, Mo. 21 Whitney Christian SS 5-4 Jr. R/R Brentwood, Tenn. 22 Sarah Kreuter OF 5-7 So. R/R Paducah, Ky. 27 Summer Cross OF 5-5 Jr. R/R Jackson, Tenn. 28 Annette Castaldo RHP 5-2 Fr. R/R Ft. Myers, Fla. 30 Hailey Cummings P/OF 5-4 So. L/L Lebanon, Ill. 31 Carter Mansolino C/3B 5-7 Sr. R/R Dickson, Tenn.

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 6 www.gscsports.org VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY BLAZERS Head Coach: Thomas Macera Current record at VSU: 483-118 (10th year)

Assistant Coach: Matt Williams, Jessica Hutchens

No. Name Pos Ht Cl B/T Hometown 1 Chelsea Canara INF 5-5 So. R/R Milton, Ga. 2 Brandi Blount UTL 5-3 So. R/R Leesburg, Ga. 3 Bree Wells IF 5-6 Jr. R/R Canton, Ga. 4 Brittany Smith OF 5-0 So. R/L Cumming, Ga. 5 Taylor Hartenbach IF 5-3 Fr. L/R Marietta, Ga. 6 Heather Robinson INF 5-9 So. R/R Valdosta, Ga. 7 Morgan Butler C 5-8 So. R/R Forsyth, Ga. 8 Maci Fletcher P 5-8 So. R Cumming, Ga. 10 Fran Johnson OF 5-8 Sr. R/R Macon, Ga. 11 Courtney Albritton UTL 5-4 Sr. R/R Sycamore, Ga. 12 Jaime Phillips C/IF 5-7 Jr. R/R Shalimar, Fla. 13 Kelly Gordon C 5-10 So. R/R Geneva, Ill. 14 Samantha Smith INF 5-4 So. R/R St. Johns, Fla. 16 Halie Imler OF 5-7 So. L/L Loganville, Ga. 17 Caitlyn Calhoun P 5-9 Jr. R/R Hamilton, Ohio 18 Jennifer Phillips IF 5-1 Jr. R/R Shalimar, Fla. 21 Huntyre Elling P 5-7 Jr. R Sarasota, Fla. 22 Brandy Morgan OF 5-5 Fr. R/R Jasper, Fla. 23 Courtney Condon P 5-7 Fr. R/R Alpharetta, Ga. 24 Caleigh McCauley OF 5-9 Fr. R/R Wellborn, Fla. 25 Kiley Rusen IF 5-6 Jr. L/R Brookfield, Ill.

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 7 www.gscsports.org GSC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT HISTORY GSC TOURNAMENT STANDINGS Team Appearances Won Lost PCT. Semis Finals Titles Years Won Alabama Huntsville 16 64 24 .727 16 12 8 1996, 99, 2000, ‘01, ‘03, 06-08 Valdosta State 27 66 36 .647 17 12 8 1993, 2002, 09-14 West Florida 18 39 25 .609 10 6 3 1998, 2004-05 West Alabama 18 38 25 .603 8 7 6 1988-91, ‘95, ‘97 Mississippi College^ 10 25 19 .568 8 5 0 North Alabama 21 40 39 .506 10 2 2 1986-87 Delta State 28 36 52 .409 7 4 1 1992 West Georgia 16 8 30 .211 0 0 0 Christian Brothers 3 0 6 .000 0 0 0

Former Members Tennessee-Martin 6 18 12 .571 5 2 0 Arkansas Tech 3 6 5 .545 2 2 0 Mississippi-Women 8 14 14 .500 4 2 1 1994 Jacksonville State 5 8 10 .444 2 0 0 Arkansas Monticello 14 19 25 .432 7 1 0 Lincoln Memorial 9 10 17 .370 2 1 0 Henderson State 7 7 14 .333 2 0 0 Southern Arkansas 9 8 19 .296 1 0 0 Troy State 6 3 12 .200 1 0 0 Central Arkansas 7 0 14 .000 0 0 0

^Played from 1992-96 in GSC; will return as full member in 2017. Not eligible for postseason in 2015 and 2016 due to reclassification process. GSC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS Year School Year School 1986 North Alabama 2001 Alabama Huntsville 1987 North Alabama 2002 Valdosta State 1988 West Alabama 2003 Alabama Huntsville 1989 West Alabama 2004 West Florida 1990 West Alabama 2005 West Florida 1991 West Alabama 2006 Alabama Huntsville 1992 Delta State 2007 Alabama Huntsville 1993 Valdosta State 2008 Alabama Huntsville 1994 Mississippi-Women 2009 Valdosta State 1995 West Alabama 2010 Valdosta State 1996 Alabama Huntsville 2011 Valdosta State 1997 West Alabama 2012 Valdosta State 1998 West Florida 2013 Valdosta State 1999 Alabama Huntsville 2014 Valdosta State 2000 Alabama Huntsville

2015 GSC Softball Tournament Program 8 www.gscsports.org

2015 GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT at Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Ga.

#1 VSU Game 4 #4 SU 5:30 pm Game 2 12:30 pm #5 UU Game 7 #3 UNA 3:00 pm Participants Game 1 UAH-Alabama Hunstville 10:00 am DSU-Delta State UNA-North Alabama #6 DSU Game 3 3:00 pm SU-Shorter UU-Union Game 10 #2 UAH VSU-Valdosta State 12:30 pm Loser G7

Game 11 Loser G1 Game 9 TBA Game 5 10:00 am (if necessary) 10:00 am Loser G2

Game 8 5:30 pm Loser G3 GAME SCHEDULE Game 6 12:30 pm Thursday, April 30 Loser G4 Game 1 10:00 am Game 2 12:30 pm Game 3 3:00 pm Game 4 5:30 pm

Friday, May 1 Game 5 10:00 am Game 6 12:30 pm Game 7 3:00 pm Game 8 5:30 pm

Saturday, May 2 Game 9 10:00 am Game 10 12:30 pm

Sunday, May 3 (if necessary) Game 11 TBA

All times local Bracket is subject to change

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