DURANT, Okla. – Midwestern State must fight through the back draw after dropping a second-round game to No. 3 Southeastern Oklahoma State Friday night at the Lone Star Conference Softball Championships at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex.
The Mustangs face Cameron in an elimination game at 11 a.m. today and, with a win, will face the winner of the other 11 a.m. elimination game between Abilene Christian and Tarleton State at 1:30 p.m. for the right to play into the tournament finals with another win against the loser of the winner's bracket final between Southeastern Oklahoma and Angelo State. That game will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at the gate at the cost of $20 for an all-tournament pass and $8 for a single-day pass.
Student tickets are available for students with valid college identification or for childrent 18 years of younger at the cost of $10 for an all-tournament pass and $5 for a single-day pass.
The Mustangs can also be tracked in the 2008 Lone Star Conference Softball Championship via free streaming audio and live stats on MSUMustangs.com.
Audio coverage will begin 10 minutes prior to each contest with the play-by-play call of Bill Powers.
LSC Softball Championship Schedule
Friday, May 2
Abilene Christian vs. Tarleton State, 11 a.m.
Midwestern State 4, Cameron 0
ACU/TSU winner vs. Midwestern State, 1:30 p.m.
Southeastern Oklahoma vs. Angelo State, 3 p.m.
SOSU/ASU loser vs. TBD, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 1
Southeastern Oklahoma 7, Texas A&M-Kingsville 1
Midwesern State 8, Tarleton State 0
Abilene Christian 2, Central Oklahoma 0
Angelo State 9, Angelo State 3
Tarleton State 6, Texas A&M-Kingsville 2, Texas A&M-Kingsville eliminated
Cameron 10, Central Oklahoma 4, Central Oklahoma eliminated
Southeastern Oklahoma 1, Midwestern State 0
Angelo State 6, Abilene Christian 4
2008 LSC Softball Championship Field
Angelo State
Seed: South Division No. 1
Angelo State (42-10) brings the NFCA's No. 11 national ranking and have won nine of its last 11 games coming into this weekend's Lone Star Conference Softball Championship. The Rambelles are led by LSC South Co-Player of the Year Macy Baker. The junior shortstop hit .387 with 11 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 50 RBI for ASU this season. Baker is aided by three fellow LSC South first-teamers in senior third baseman Brittany Welch (.238, three doubles), senior outfielder Whitney Meeks (.329, 12 doubles, four triples, one homer and 32 RBI) and sophomore designated player Kristen Frye (.424, 22 stolen bases). In the circle, LSC South Pitcher of the Year Kari Galm anchors the staff. Galm is 27-2 with a 1.12 ERA while allowing 178 base runners (146 hits and 32 walks) in 180 2/3 innings this season.
History against the Rambelles
Angelo State leads the series 10-6 and took two of three from the Mustangs this season, but MSU has won its last two against the Rambelles at the Lone Star Conference Softball Championships.
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Seed: North Division No. 1
Southeastern Oklahoma State (48-8) obtained its highest ever national ranking this week when it moved up to No. 3 in the NFCA poll. The ranking represents the best ranking for any sport in school history besting the 2006-07 men's basketball team which reached No. 4. The Savage Storm is led Lone Star Conference North Division Co-Player of the Year Rachel Lynn. The speedster gives SOSU a potent leadoff threat, leading the team with a .417 average with 46 stolen bases. She is helped by three more All-LSC North Division fi rst teamers in junior first baseman Benita Sanchez (.407, 11 doubles, four homeruns and 38 RBI), senior designated player Lesley Boyd (.349, 13 doubles, five home runs and 33 RBI) and senior infielder/outfielder Rachel Sill (.327, five doubles, four home runs and 28 RBI). Second-team All-LSC North pick Ashley Graham (.363, 11 home runs, 60 RBI) and honorable mention Bailey Mathes (.378, 15 home runs and 54 RBI) provide SOSU with a pair of serious power threats. Former Oklahoma State standout Marjorie Johnson anchors the pitching staff while provided yet another power option in the batter's box. Johnson, an All-LSC North first team pitching selection, leads the nation in strikeouts with 332 while posting a 24-3 record and a 1.29 ERA. Johnson also hit .312 with 14 doubles, nine homers and 31 RBI. Junior Jami McAdoo turned in a solid season as the No. 2 pitcher for the Savage Storm. She notched a 22-4 record with a 2.09 ERA.
History against the Savage Storm
Midwestern State leads the overall series 14-11, but the Savage Storm claimed a series sweep this season. The teams have split their two meeting in the Lone Star Conference Softball Championships.
Tarleton State
Seed: South Division No. 2
Tarleton State (27-22) claimed a share of the Lone Star Conference South Division title after rolling up wins in eight of its last nine games to close the regular season. LSC South Division Co-Player of the Year Kelli Gayle paces the TexAnns at the plate with a .404 average with nine doubles, three triples, four home runs and 18 stolen bases. Gayle was joined on the All-LSC South second team by junior designated player Britnee Rice (.311, seven doubles, nine home runs and 42 RBI). In the circle, Tarleton State is led by fi rst-team All-LSC South Division pick Brooke Saulters, who posted a 15-11 record with a 2.45 ERA.
History against the TexAnns
Tarleton State leads the overall series with the Mustangs 5-4 as the teams split their two meetings this season. Midwestern State won the lone meeting between the teams at the Lone Star Conference Softball Championship when it claimed a 6-4 victory in the tournament opener on April 25, 2005.
Central Oklahoma
Seed: North Division No. 2
Central Oklahoma (35-12) won each of its seven games here at the Lone Star Conference Crossover on its way to a 14-game winning streak. The Bronchos, who had won 17 of 18, dropped three of their four games against Southeastern Oklahoma on the last week of the season. UCO placed four hitters on the All-Lone Star Conference North Division squad including junior second baseman Alley Roberts (.392, 10 doubles and 10 home runs), senior third baseman Jodi Craig (.324, eight doubles, nine homers and 40 RBI), senior outfielder Meagan Campbell (.324, 17 stolen bases) and sophomore utility player Molly Shivers (.302, eight home runs). Shivers (12-1, 1.97) joined senior Alli Blake (16-6, 2.15) as All-LSC North second-team pitchers.
History against the Bronchos
Midwestern State leads its all-time series with the Bronchos 16-9, but Central Oklahoma claimed wins in three of the four games between the teams in 2008. MSU is 3-1 against the Bronchos in the Lone Star Conference Softball Championships, including taking a pair of games from them at the 2007 tournament.
Abilene Christian
Seed: South Division No. 3
Abilene Christian (28-23) closed the season by winning seven of its last 10. The Wildcats are led by Lone Star Conference South Division Newcomer of the Year Jessica Shiery, who hit .458 with 19 homers, nine home runs and 38 RBI. Shiery did all of this while drawing 45 walks and striking just nine times in 144 official at bats. She was joined on the All-LSC South first team by senior outfi elder Leisha Johnson (.307, seven doubles, nine homers and 20 stolen bases), while junior second baseman Jackie Gentile (.297, four doubles and two homers) gained second-team honers. In the circle, ACU is paced by senior All-LSC South second-teamer Kim McDonald. McDonald notched a 14-14 record with a 3.09 ERA.
History against the Wildcats
Midwestern State leads its all-time series with the Wildcats 16-8 and took four of five against them this season. The Mustangs are 3-1 against ACU in the Lone Star Conference Softball Championships. The teams played three times in the tournament in 2006 as the Mustangs won its fi rst LSC title.
Midwestern State
Seed: North Division No. 3
Midwestern State (33-25) recovered from losing six of seven by winning three of its last five including a 3-2 win over Angelo State last Saturday in San Angelo. The Mustangs are led by All-LSC North first-team catcher Lindsey Voigt, who hit .342 with 12 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 33 RBI. The leadoff hitter also lifted 20 stolen bases. MSU also placed four players on the second team including senior third baseman Kristen Stonecipher (.362, eight doubles, seven homers, 44 RBI and 12 stolen bases), junior fi rst baseman Jessica Rodriguez (.321, 11 doubles, two home runs and 34 RBI), junior outfielder Maranda Bishop (.341, eight doubles, seven triples, one homer and nine stolen bases) and sophomore second baseman Tabitha Yannetti (.267, 12 doubles, one homer and 20 RBI). In the circle, Midwestern State is paced by LSC North Division Pitcher of the Year Katie Petersen, who notched a 23-7 record with a team-record 1.27 ERA.
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Seed: South Division No. 4
Texas A&M-Kingsville (22-32) lost its last nine games of the regular season. The Javelinas are led by All-Lone Star Conference South Division second teamer Cassie Anderson. The sophomore outfielder hit .355 with four doubles, two triples and a home run. She also lifted 31 stolen bases. All-LSC South honorable mention senior catcher Julia Canales is hitting .317 with 11 doubles, one triple, a homer and 10 stolen bases. All-LSC South second-teamer Courtney Rigamonti leads Texas A&M-Kingsville in the circle with a 13-18 record and a 2.74 ERA.
History against the Javelinas
Midwestern State leads its all-time series with the Javelinas 6-4 and won the lone meeting between the clubs this season at the Lone Star Conference Crossover. The teams have never met in a Lone Star Conference Softball Championship.
Cameron
Seed: North Division No. 4
Cameron (34-28) lost fi ve its last seven regular season games, but brings NCAA Division II's most power offense into the Lone Star Conference Championships. The Aggies lead the nation with 84 homers as five different posted at least 10 homers and five drove at least 40 runs. Cameron placed two players on the All-LSC North's fi rst team. Junior shortstop Megan Young hit .355 with 14 doubles, 16 home runs and 64 RBI, while senior outfielder Sammi Adams hit .396 with seven doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 31 RBI. Adams also swiped 30 bases. Junior catcher Shareena Pulse earned second-team accolades after hitting .309 with 19 homers and 52 RBIs. Junior fi rst baseman Jenna Boren (.309, 16 doubles, 12 homers and 40 RBI), junior designated player Chelsey Jordan (.262, 12 homers and 46 RBI) and senior third baseman Melissa Bour (.366, 25 doubles and 46 RBI) gained honorable mention. Ashton McBride leads Cameron in the circle with a 22-17 record and a 3.97 ERA.
History against the Aggies
Midwestern State leads its all-time series with the Aggies 13-7 as the teams split its four-game series this season. The teams have never met in a Lone Star Conference Softball Championship.
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