Patrick Johnston/MSU Athletics

Senior Kristina Gutierrez is the reigning Lone Star Conference North Division Pitcher of the Week.

Softball 2/17/2011 7:18:00 PM MSU Sports Information

Mustangs open home slate Friday against Texas Woman's

Setting the Stage

No. 12 Midwestern State plays host to its first of three individual tournaments this season this weekend at Mustangs Park.

MSU plays four games in the three-day tournament including games against Texas Woman's University and Eastern New Mexico Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The Mustangs take Saturday off before returning to close the event with games against Missouri Southern and Drury (Mo.) on Sunday. First pitches are set for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

Where to Find the Game

Live Stats - Each game of the MSU Invitational is available on live stats courtesy of MSUMustangs.com. Link

Mustangs Noteables

OFF AND RUNNING Midwestern State is off to its best start in program history at 11-1 with its lone loss coming at Texas A&M-Kingsville last week by a 1-0 margin. The Mustangs next best start through 12 games came in their inaugural season of 2004 at 10-2.

MSU AT MUSTANGS PARK The Mustangs enjoyed a banner season in 2010 posting 25 wins at their venerable home field. Midwestern State has posted a 54-16 mark at Mustangs Park for a .771 winning percentage since the facility opened for the final two games of the 2007 season.

MSU IN HOME OPENERS The Mustangs have won their last five home openers dating back to the 2006 season including a wins over Arkansas Tech (10-3) and Northwest Missouri (5-1) in invitationals in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

BENNETT OFF AND RUNNING Sophomore outfielder Elena Bennett carries a nine-game hitting streak into this weekend's series as she hit .619 (13-of-21) with nine stolen bases at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Invitational. She is hitting .548 during the 12-game streak with eight runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Bennett became MSU's all-time stolen base leader when she stole two bases against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Feb. 13, 2011.

BINGHAM DRIVES 'EM HOME Sophomore outfielder Courtney Bingham earned LSC North Division Player of the Week and Texas A&M-Kingsville MVP honors after hitting .500 (11-of-22) with four triples and 10 RBIs to help the Mustangs to a 5-1 showing at the tournament. Bingham leads the LSC in hits (19), triples (4) and RBIs (15).

WE'RE WALKIN' Freshman Kim Jerrick and senior Amanda Potysman lead the LSC with seven walks as the Mustangs have drawn a league-high 46 in 12 games thus far this season.

REYNOLDS WRECKS SCOREBOARD Senior Alyson Reynolds banged her second homer - a two-run shot against Texas A&M International on Feb. 12 - off of the new scoreboard at Hubert Field in Kingsville. Reynolds has already collected five multiple-hit games and is hitting .371 with a double, a triple, two homers and 10 RBIs.

JERRICK JACKS Kim Jerrick stroked her first collegiate homer Sunday at Texas A&M-Kingsville and is off to flying start. The frosh from Belle Plaine, Kan. is hitting .385 with a pair of doubles, a homer and five RBIs.

NO E IN MOON__Y It's been 42 games since junior third baseman Mallory Mooney committed her last fielding error at Missouri Southern on March 6, 2010. The Mesquite native has handled each of her last 107 chances since flawlessly. Mooney recorded 37 consecutive error-free games from March 3, 2008 to Feb. 19, 2010 while handling 119 chances without a miscue. She owns a phenomenal .990 fielding percentage in her first 106 games at MSU and has committed just three errors in 306 chances. Mooney is not just a slick fielder as she carries a .351 average at the dish with four double, a homer and 10 RBIs in 2011.

G STEPS UP Senior pitcher Kristina Gutierrez earned Lone Star Conference North Division Pitcher of the Week honors after starting the campaign with five straight winning decisions. The Pearland native has allowed just seven runs on 25 hits for a 1.47 ERA while notching 48 strikeouts and two walks in 33 1/3 innings.

TANNER MOWING THEM DOWN Senior Brittney Tanner continues to lead the LSC with 68 strikeouts and continues to flash her preseason player of the year potential. The Burkburnett product is 6-1 while allowing 11 earned runs on 38 hits for a 1.72 ERA and walked just six batters in 44 2/3 innings.

About the Field

Texas Woman's (1-3) is coming off of a 1-3 showing last weekend at the Whitten Inn Classic hosted by Abilene Christian. Freshman Bailey Vrazel leads the Pioneers at the plate hitting .429 and is perfect on five stolen base attempts thus far this season while sophomore Jordan Readicker (1 2B, 1 HR) and freshman Katie Hines are each hitting .333. TWU has struggled in the circle posting a team ERA of 11.62.

Eastern New Mexico (0-4) opened the season with four losses at the St. Mary's Division II Classic two weeks ago in San Antonio. Senior Taylor Howard leads the Zias at the plate hitting .462 with two homers while junior Katlyn Madrano boasts a .417 mark with two homers of her own. The rest of the team is hitting a combined 7-for-71 (.099). Junior Erin Roufosse is ENMU's top pitching option posting an 0-4 mark allowing eight earned runs on 30 hits in 17 innings for a 3.29 ERA. The Zias have allowed a total of 30 runs in four games including 15 unearned.

Missouri Southern (1-1) split a twin bill at Southwestern Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon in Weatherford.

Drury opens the 2011 campaign with a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Southwestern Oklahoma.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#6 Elena Bennett: OF; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R

#14 Courtney Bingham: OF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/L

#17 Kristina Gutierrez: P; 5' 5"; Senior; R/R

#16 Kim Jerrick: C; 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R

#10 Mallory Mooney: 3B; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#15 Amanda Potysman: UT; 5' 5"; Senior; R/R

#9 Alyson Reynolds: 1B; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#25 Brittney Tanner: P; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#6 Elena Bennett
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#14 Courtney Bingham
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/L
: OF

#17 Kristina Gutierrez
: 5' 5"; Senior; R/R
: P

#16 Kim Jerrick
: 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R
: C

#10 Mallory Mooney
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: 3B

#15 Amanda Potysman
: 5' 5"; Senior; R/R
: UT

#9 Alyson Reynolds
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: 1B

#25 Brittney Tanner
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: P