WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State battles Incarnate Word in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

About the Mustangs

Midwestern State snapped out of a four-game skid with a 4-3 win over No. 4 Southeastern Oklahoma State Tuesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

The Mustangs are 7-9 since winning 16 out of 17 from Feb. 13 through March 7.

Midwestern currently ranks third in the LSC in team hitting with a .330 mark as the Mustangs boast eight .300 hitters which have amassed a .300 batting average.

Freshman left fielder Nicki Duff leads the Mustangs and is eighth in the LSC with a .405 batting average.

Junior Katie Petersen spearheads MSU's efforts in the circle with an 11-6 record with a 2.35 ERA. The right-hander has yielded 36 earned runs on 91 hits in 107 1/3 innings of work. Petersen is fourth in the conference with 137 strikeouts.

Sophomore Brittney Tanner is 11-6 with a 3.35 ERA while allowing 53 earned runs on 98 hits in 110 2/3 innings. She has limited the opposition to a .234 batting average and notched 103 strikeouts.

Midwestern State rates third in the LSC in team batting average (.330), seventh in team ERA (3.04) and second in fielding percentage at .966.

Who's hot

Junior Lauren Craig's average has soared since dipping to .147 after going 0-for-3 at Texas Woman's University on Feb. 24, but MSU's primary designated hitter has thrived during LSC North Division play.

Craig has collected hits in 13 of the Mustangs' 18 division games and leads the team with a .429 batting average while slugging .673 with six doubles and two homers against the North.
She has raised raised her average to a current .316 while mashing out eight extra-base hits since Feb. 24.

Craig led the nation in fewest strikeouts before being caught looking at a wide third strike by Cameron's Ashton McBride Saturday afternoon at Mustangs Park. It was her first of the season.

About the Cardinals

Incarnate Word brings a five-game losing streak into Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader at Mustangs Park.

The Cardinals (20-23) are led by freshman Lea Padilla and junior Alex Carraman.

Padilla is hitting .357 with nine doubles, eight homers and 32 RBIs, while Carraman also bats .357 with 11 doubles, seven homers and 39 RBIs.

Senior Ashley Hinojosa is UIW's other power source while hitting .336 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs.

The Cardinals hit .294 as a team and have slugged 29 homers with all but three of those coming from Padilla, Carraman and Hinojosa.

Senior Amanda Sparks is Incarnate Word's top options in the circle with an 11-7 record and a 2.95 ERA. She has surrendered 55 earned runs on 152 hits in 130 2/3 innings with 88 strikeouts and 61 walks.

Padilla is 8-14 with a 4.14 ERA as the Cardinals' No. 2 option. She has allowed 75 earned runs on 164 hits in 126 2/3 while striking out 56 and walking 60.

Incarnate Word boasts a 3.91 team ERA and the opposition is hitting .307 against the Cardinals pitching staff.

About the series

Midwestern State and Incarnate Word will meet for the ninth and 10th times Wednesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

MSU holds a a 5-3 advantage in the series, but the Cardinals claimed a 2-1 win in the club's last meeting at the St. Mary's Division II Classic in San Antonio on Feb. 6 this season.