University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Rayner Ranked Among the Nation’s Best in NCAA Division I Softball
2/14/2020 11:11:00 AM | Softball
The Stringer, Miss. native has posted jaw-dropping stats to start the 2020 season.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss softball team, under the direction of first-year Head Coach Brian Levin, has gotten off to a spectacular start in 2020. In five games played, the Golden Eagles have posted a 4-1 record and outscored their opponents, 43-7.
The Golden Eagles' offense has been clicking on all cylinders and are now ranked in the Top 25 in six of NCAA Division I Softball's team statistical categories. Southern Miss is currently tied for the most triples per game (1.20) in NCAA Division I Softball and the most walks (34). The Golden Eagles rank eighth in on-base percentage (.487) and OPS (1.092), are tied for 11th in runs per game (8.60) and rank 15th in slugging percentage (0.605).
Leading the way for Southern Miss' offense is sophomore left fielder and Stringer, Miss. native Madison Rayner who has put up insane numbers to kick off her 2020 campaign. After recording four triples in four games played during Southern Miss' Black & Gold Invitational last weekend, Rayner leads NCAA Division I Softball in triples. Rayner is tied for the second highest on-base percentage (.857), ranks third in slugging percentage (1.778), and holds the fourth-best batting average (.778) in NCAA Division I Softball.
Southern Miss Head Softball Coach Brian Levin on Rayner's success
"I am not surprised to see Madison at the top of a few categories. She is doing what I see everyday in practice. She is a hard worker. Madison is a rare combination of speed and power, so she is built to have extra-base hits. We are excited to see how the rest of the year progresses for her."
Rayner's recent success isn't something unusual, instead, it is something that fans in the Pine Belt area have had a front row seat to her entire career. From her days of playing youth softball in Jasper County to club softball for Mississippi Elite Gold and all the way through her junior high and high school days at Heidelberg Academy and Stringer High School, Rayner has made her name known with her play on the field.
Having spent her prep career playing at the MAIS Class A and the MHSAA Class 1A levels, Rayner proved immediately as a freshman at Southern Miss that talent on the smallest stage can still translate to the biggest stage.
During her freshman campaign, Rayner started all 52 of Southern Miss' games, serving as the Golden Eagles' primary left fielder and leadoff hitter. She also opened her career in an unforgettable way, belting a solo home run against Tennessee Tech (Feb. 9, 2019) that marked the first hit of her Southern Miss career.
Rayner on her success at the plate
"I would never have thought that I would be leading NCAA Division I softball in something or ranked in the top five in other statistical categories, but it is pretty cool. It means a lot to me because I have worked so hard to get my swing to where it is. I have worked on my mental game a lot with Coach Levin and Coach Mulvany, and I believe that has helped me be relaxed in the box. Also, my teammates have been a big help in making me stay positive and confident every day on and off the field. This sport is something special."
Rayner along with the rest of the Golden Eagles will be back in action on Saturday (Feb. 15) when they begin play in the Troy Tournament hosted by Troy University. Southern Miss will take on Southeast Missouri State (0-0) at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and will then take on Purdue Fort Wayne (0-3) at 2:00 p.m. Southern Miss will battle Eastern Illinois (4-1) at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday (Feb. 16) and then finish the tournament with a 4:00 p.m. contest against Troy (3-1).
*All games times are listed in Central Time (CT)*
For all of the latest Southern Miss softball news, fans can follow the official Southern Miss softball Twitter account (@SouthernMissSB), Instagram account (@southernmisssb) and Facebook account (Southern Miss Softball).
The Golden Eagles' offense has been clicking on all cylinders and are now ranked in the Top 25 in six of NCAA Division I Softball's team statistical categories. Southern Miss is currently tied for the most triples per game (1.20) in NCAA Division I Softball and the most walks (34). The Golden Eagles rank eighth in on-base percentage (.487) and OPS (1.092), are tied for 11th in runs per game (8.60) and rank 15th in slugging percentage (0.605).
Leading the way for Southern Miss' offense is sophomore left fielder and Stringer, Miss. native Madison Rayner who has put up insane numbers to kick off her 2020 campaign. After recording four triples in four games played during Southern Miss' Black & Gold Invitational last weekend, Rayner leads NCAA Division I Softball in triples. Rayner is tied for the second highest on-base percentage (.857), ranks third in slugging percentage (1.778), and holds the fourth-best batting average (.778) in NCAA Division I Softball.
Southern Miss Head Softball Coach Brian Levin on Rayner's success
"I am not surprised to see Madison at the top of a few categories. She is doing what I see everyday in practice. She is a hard worker. Madison is a rare combination of speed and power, so she is built to have extra-base hits. We are excited to see how the rest of the year progresses for her."
Rayner's recent success isn't something unusual, instead, it is something that fans in the Pine Belt area have had a front row seat to her entire career. From her days of playing youth softball in Jasper County to club softball for Mississippi Elite Gold and all the way through her junior high and high school days at Heidelberg Academy and Stringer High School, Rayner has made her name known with her play on the field.
Having spent her prep career playing at the MAIS Class A and the MHSAA Class 1A levels, Rayner proved immediately as a freshman at Southern Miss that talent on the smallest stage can still translate to the biggest stage.
During her freshman campaign, Rayner started all 52 of Southern Miss' games, serving as the Golden Eagles' primary left fielder and leadoff hitter. She also opened her career in an unforgettable way, belting a solo home run against Tennessee Tech (Feb. 9, 2019) that marked the first hit of her Southern Miss career.
Rayner on her success at the plate
"I would never have thought that I would be leading NCAA Division I softball in something or ranked in the top five in other statistical categories, but it is pretty cool. It means a lot to me because I have worked so hard to get my swing to where it is. I have worked on my mental game a lot with Coach Levin and Coach Mulvany, and I believe that has helped me be relaxed in the box. Also, my teammates have been a big help in making me stay positive and confident every day on and off the field. This sport is something special."
Rayner along with the rest of the Golden Eagles will be back in action on Saturday (Feb. 15) when they begin play in the Troy Tournament hosted by Troy University. Southern Miss will take on Southeast Missouri State (0-0) at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and will then take on Purdue Fort Wayne (0-3) at 2:00 p.m. Southern Miss will battle Eastern Illinois (4-1) at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday (Feb. 16) and then finish the tournament with a 4:00 p.m. contest against Troy (3-1).
*All games times are listed in Central Time (CT)*
For all of the latest Southern Miss softball news, fans can follow the official Southern Miss softball Twitter account (@SouthernMissSB), Instagram account (@southernmisssb) and Facebook account (Southern Miss Softball).
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