WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State begins a four-game series with a twin bill against East Central (Okla.) Saturday afternoon at Lady Tigers Field in Ada. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

The teams wrap up the series with a doubleheader Monday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

Follow the game on live stats on MSUMustangs.com.
 

Game Notes

Midwestern State split its four-game series with Central Oklahoma last week and is currently tied for second in the rugged Lone Star Conference's North Division. Last week's losses to Central Oklahoma snapped a seven-game winning streak, but the Mustangs have still won eight of their last 10 heading into this week's four-game set with East Central University.

This week's opponent

East Central University: The much improved Lady Tigers are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Northeastern State last Saturday in Ada. ECU is now 7-3 at home, 12-12-1 overall and 3-5 in divisional play. The Lady Tigers are led by freshman third baseman Kasey Barber, who is hitting .329 with six doubles, three triples a homer and 15 RBI, while sophomore infielder Hillary Hughes is hitting .310 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. In the circle, the Lady Tigers are led by ace Dana McLaren is 4-6 with two saves in 14 appearances as she has a 2.86 ERA while allowing 45 hits in 73 1/3 innings. McLaren has struck out 51 and walked just nine. Freshman Randee Crockett has a 3.07 ERA in eight starts, but has struck out 39 and walked just one in 41 innings of work.

MSU loves its new digs

The Mustangs won their fi rst nine games at Mustangs Park before suffering its fi rst lost in a 5-3 set back to Central Oklahoma on March 8. Midwestern State is now 9-1 at the newly opened Mustangs Park. MSU claimed a pair of wins against Southwestern Oklahoma State when the facility opened on April 28, 2007 with a two shutouts – 3-0 and 2-0. The Mustangs extended its scoreless streak to 21 innings before Abilene Christian's Jessica Shiery drove in Jackie Gentile with an RBI-single in the first inning on March 2. The Mustangs have outscored the opposition 50-21 at Mustangs Park.

Petersen is on a roll

Katie Petersen has been nothing short of sensational since dropping her fi rst two decisions of the 2008 season. She won her second LSC North Division Pitcher of the Week honor last week after extending her consecutive winning decision streat to 13 games, which was snapped at Central Oklahoma on Tuesday. The sophomore right-hander won her last 13 of her last 14 decisions while posting a 0.68 ERA since going to 0-2 on Feb. 2. Petersen has limited the opposition to a .185 batting average and one home run while holding them to seven earned runs and 48 hits in 72 innings during the stretch. She has fanned 75 batters and issued 16 free passes.

Stonecipher threatening conference marks

Kristen Stonecipher is chasing a pair of Lone Star Conference records this season. The senior third baseman from Flower Mound needs 26 hits to become the league's all-time hits leader. Southeastern Oklahoma's Kim Nichols had 262 from 1999-2003. Stonecipher also needs 21 RBI to move past former Abilene Christian standout Katie Bryan to become the league's all-time RBI queen. Bryan drove in 171 runs from 2002-05. Stonecipher currently has 237 hits and driven in 151 runs.