WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern will look to close out the regular season on a strong note Saturday as the Moundbuilders travel to McPherson for a KCAC doubleheader scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.

Southwestern enters the weekend at 8-30 overall and 2-20 in conference play, coming off a stretch against conference opponents that has tested a young roster. The Moundbuilders will aim to build momentum against a McPherson squad that sits at 12-25 overall and 4-18 in the KCAC.

Offensively, Southwestern has been led by Taylor Mesna, who is hitting a team-best .402 with 41 hits and 17 runs scored this season. Lainey Hardman has added a .346 average with 28 hits, while Tiara Henry and Jolie Boyd have each driven in double-digit runs to help pace the lineup.

As a team, the Moundbuilders are batting .257 on the year and have totaled 225 hits across 36 games. Southwestern will look to generate early offense, as the team has scored 97 runs this season but has been outscored by opponents in several innings, particularly in the middle frames.

In the circle, Faith Campbell has logged a team-high workload with 88.1 innings pitched and 64 strikeouts, while Emma Willesden has added 78.1 innings. Limiting opposing offenses will be key, as opponents are batting .414 against Southwestern pitching this season.

McPherson enters the matchup hitting .290 as a team with 176 runs scored and 16 home runs on the year. Layla Towner leads the Bulldogs with a .344 average and four home runs, while Savannah Robles (.325) and Samantha Hollingsworth (.319) provide additional production in the lineup.

In the circle, McPherson owns a 6.21 team ERA and has allowed opponents to hit .333 this season.

Saturday's doubleheader marks an opportunity for Southwestern to gain ground in the conference standings, as the Moundbuilders look to put together a complete performance on both sides of the ball in McPherson.