Lady Hornets softball kicked off the season with a 6-0 performance in the Seven States Classic, proving why they are the defending MIAA Champions and are the 18th ranked team in the nation.

On Feb. 15, the Hornets gave up just one run in their 1-0, and had 11-1 wins over Southern Nazarene and Henderson State. Karley Schmelzer, senior pitcher, earned her first no-hitter on the season with 11 strikeouts in the first game against Southern Nazarene. Andrea Piezuch brought her bat in the second game, as she went four for four with four RBIs in a run ruled victory over Henderson State.

The next day, the Hornets improved to 4-0, with a 7-2 win over Ouachita Baptist, and a 3-1 win over Southern Arkansas. Schmelzer earned the win, as she came in for relief in the top of the fifth and retired nine straight batters. She also added 11 strikeouts to her season in the second game, allowing just one run.

On Sunday, the Lady Hornets continued to take care of business with an 8-4 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State and a 4-2 win over host Ark.-Monticello. Cacy Williams, freshman infielder, got her third homer of the weekend in the top of the second to make it 2-0. Schmelzer picked up her fifth win in her fifth game of the weekend with a shutout pitching performance until the seventh inning.

The Lady Hornets, who are on their best start since the 2006 National Runner-Up season, look to keep their perfect season alive in Oklahoma for a five-game weekend starting Feb. 22.