LAWTON – The Cameron softball team will return to the diamond this weekend to play six games in three days at the Southeastern Regional Invitational in Durant, Okla.

The Aggies will face defending Heartland Conference champions St. Mary's twice, and also play against Pittsburgh State, St. Edward's, Texas A&M-International and Emporia State.

Cameron was recently selected to finish fifth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll after going 33-21 and 18-14 in league play. Last season in their sixth straight conference tournament appearance, the Aggies were knocked out of the first round by Midwestern State.

The team returns seven players including senior Breezy McComas who was recently selected to be on the 2017 Shutt Sports/NFCA Division II Player of the Year watch list.

Last season McComas hit .391 with 13 homers, 43 RBI and 48 runs scored. She also sported a .971 fielding percentage with 10 outfield assists.

Fellow starters Nikki Horton, Paige Daino and Annie Combs join McComas for their senior campaigns as well. Last season Horton hit .331, recording 52 hits and crossed the plate 36 times herself. She also led the Aggies in stolen bases with 13 swipes.

Daino contributed batted in 36 runs off 37 hits, seven of which were doubles and five homeruns. She also recorded 112 putouts while fielding .991. Meanwhile, Combs started in all 54 of the Aggies' games where she had 38 hits, eight homers and batted in 34 runs.

The Aggies return only one pitcher in Alyssa Osterdock who went 6-5 in the circle, pitching 82 innings, struck out 33 batters and had one shutout. Freshman Bethany Hines with join her on the pitching staff.

New to the Aggie squad will be seven true freshmen and one junior transfer led by first year head coach Dennis Furr, who brings 13 years of head coaching experience at the prep-level, six appearances in the OSSAA Championship, and four state titles to the program.

The Aggies debut their season starting at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 3 versus St. Mary's.

St. Mary's / 9:30 a.m. Feb. 3 and 12 p.m. Feb. 5
The Rattlers currently sit at No. 12 in NFCA Preseason Coaches' Poll and have been picked to repeat as Heartland Conference Champions.
Last season St. Mary's compiled a 47-14 record en route to a South Central Super Regional berth.
Junior third baseman Hannah Michel and sophomore utility Raynelle Nash were named to the Preseason All-Heartland Team.
 
Pittsburgh State / 12 p.m. Feb. 3
The Gorillas have been picked to finish third in the MIAA standings after finishing last season 39-19 overall and 19-7 in the league.
PSU returns five All-MIAA players with two-time MIAA Pitcher of the Year junior Emmie Robertson
The Gorillas were knocked out of the first round of MIAA tourney last season by Central Oklahoma.
 
St. Edward's / 9:30 a.m. Feb. 4
The Hilltoppers were predicted to finish fourth in the 2017 Heartland Conference Preseason poll after finishing the previous season at 26-24 overall and 16-8 in the league.
Senior pitcher Lauren Slatten (18-11) was voted to the Preseason All-Heartland Conference team after finishing last season first in earned-run average, strikeouts, shutouts, opposing batting average and innings pitched.
Meghan Mullin begins her first season as head coach for the Hilltoppers after serving as assistant coach for the past two years.
 
Texas A&M-International / 5 p.m. Feb. 4
For the third consecutive year, TAMIU was tabbed to finish fifth overall in the Heartland Conference.
The Dustdevils finished last season 24-35 overall and 10-14 in the league advancing to the seventh game of their conference tournament before falling to eventual champions St. Mary's in an elimination game.
TAMIU returns 2016 All-Heartland Conference Softball team honoree Brenda Parnin who hit .311 with 33 RBI, 18 doubles, and eight home runs.
 
Emporia State (0-0) 9:30 a.m. Feb. 5
The Hornets were picked to finish eighth in the preseason MIAA Coaches Poll.
Emporia State finished last season 21-32 overall and 9-17 in the conference.
The Hornets return three 2016 honorable mention All-MIAA players including senior Eryn Stockman who went 13-13 last season in the circle with a 3.30 ERA. Junior first baseman Danielle Sprinkle and junior outfielder Caitlin VanVleck joined her in the honors.