WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State plays host to Northeastern State in its final Lone Star Conference North Division doubleheader Saturday afternoon for Senior Day at Mustangs Park.

The Mustangs have already clinched an outright LSC North championship by virtue of Central Oklahoma's 5-0 loss Wednesday afternoon which gave MSU a three-game lead in the loss column with two games remaining to be played.

Midwestern State will go outside of division play to play host to Angelo State next Saturday at Mustangs Park, while the Bronchos close the regular season against Southeastern Oklahoma State.

About Senior Day

Midwestern State honors a pair of quality seniors prior to Saturday's twin bill against Northeastern State.

Lauren Craig is nearing her 200th career game and became the fourth player in school history to drive in 100 runs in her career earlier this week in Tahlequah.

Katie Petersen has earned all-region honors and is a 12-time LSC North Pitcher of the Week which also includes a pair of NFCA/Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week honors. She owns most of MSU's all-time pitching records and is closing in on conference standards with 88 wins and 816 strikeouts.

About the RiverHawks

Northeastern State remains in the mix for a berth in the Lone Star Conference Championships set to be played from May 6-8 at the Durant (Okla.) Multisport Complex.

The RiverHawks are currently in sixth place with a 6-12 LSC North mark and trail Southeastern Oklahoma (7-7), East Central (8-10) and Cameron (6-10) for the third and fourth seeds.

MSU and Central Oklahoma have clinched a spot in the LSC Championships, while Southwestern Oklahoma is lone team isn't yet eliminated but must win out to even gain consideration.

Cayce Coleman is the RiverHawks best option at the plate and in the circle.

The freshman from Red Oak, Okla. is hitting .331 with seven doubles and has claimed the decision in 11 of NSU's 15 wins this season with a 4.51 ERA.

Freshman outfielder Lisa Ripperger (.324, 6 HR, 25 RBI) and sophomore Shelbi Bowin (.313, 7 HR, 28 RBI) supply the RiverHawks with a pair power options at the plate.

About the Mustangs

Midwestern State can set or match several records Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Northeastern State.

The Mustangs will set a team single-season record with one more win. It will be their 45th this season to better the 44-win seasons set in 2006 and 2007.

The next home win would give MSU its 18th win at Mustangs Park this season which would also stand as a new record. Midwestern rolled up a 20-6 mark in 2005 when the team played its home games at the Sunrise Optimist Complex.

Two wins would also match the programs' longest winning streak at 14 games which was set from March 4-15 earlier this season.

About the series

Midwestern State meets Northeastern State for the 25th and 26th time on the diamond Saturday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

The Mustangs own a 21-3 edge in the series after claiming wins of 7-1 and 5-1 Tuesday afternoon in Tahlequah.

MSU owns a commanding 12-1 edge over the RiverHawks in games played in Wichita Falls.

The Mustangs have shutout NSU 13 times in the 24-game history of the series.

Notables

• Senior pitcher Katie Petersen has posted 816 career strikeouts and is closing in on a Lone Star Conference record, but information was uncovered this week to reveal another conference strikeout leader. Southeastern Oklahoma's Christina Cearley posted 869 from 2003-06 to outdistance the former reported leader - Maria Gutierrez. Gutierrez had 852 strikeouts from 1999-02. Petersen needs 54 more strikeouts to eclipse the mark.
• Petersen claimed her 87th career win and needs six more to move atop the all-time LSC list which is currently held by former MSU/TWU standout Brittany Willson (2002, 04-06) and Cearley.
• Petersen struck out 13 batters in Tuesday win at Northeastern State. She now has struck out at least 10 batters in eight games this season and 24 times in her career.
• Two-time defending LSC North Pitcher of the Week Brittney Tanner has experienced an incredible month of April. She boasts a 6-0 mark in the circle while limiting the opposition to a .181 batting average while striking out 50 and walking 12 for a 1.55 ERA. But the junior has proven golden at the plate where she is hitting .381 for the month with five doubles and three homers while driving in 13 runs. Tanner is slugging a robust .714 for the month.
• Sophomore third baseman Mallory Mooney returned to the lineup Tuesday afternoon in Tahlequah after an absence of 18 games and didn't miss a beat. She recorded a pair of two-hit games and belted her sixth and seventh homers of the season to pick up right where she left off before suffering a leg injury at the LSC Crossover. Mooney is hitting .360 and slugging .660 this season.
• Senior catcher Lauren Craig had a run of eight games with an RBI end with the second game of Tuesday's twin bill at Northeastern State. She leads all LSC hitters with 22 RBIs during divisional play only and is the current LSC North Hitter of the Week.
• Freshman outfielder Elena Bennett stole her 19th and 20th bases Tuesday afternoon at Northeastern State. She needs two more to match former standout Lindsey Voigt, who had 22 in 2008.
• Freshman Natalie Rodriguez's seven home runs matched Rachael Jackson (2004) for the most bombs by a freshman in program history.