Softball 2/22/2011 12:00:00 AM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: No. 12 Mustangs look to continue winning ways at Abilene Christian

Setting the Stage

No. 12 Midwestern State takes on Abilene Christian in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Wells Field in Abilene.

The Mustangs are coming off of a strong showing at the MSU Invitational where it rolled to four wins while outscoring Texas Woman's, Eastern New Mexico, Missouri Southern and Drury (Mo.) by a combined score of 36-0.

MSU is off to its best start in school history at 15-1 bettering the 13-3 mark through 16 games set in 2006 and matched last season.

Abilene Christian (8-6) went 4-2 last weekend at the South Central Shootout in Durant.

First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Where to Find the Game

Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of ACUSports.com. Link

Mustangs Noteables

OFF AND RUNNING Midwestern State is off to its best start in program history at 15-1 with its lone loss coming at Texas A&M-Kingsville last week by a 1-0 margin. The Mustangs next best start through 16 games was 13-3 set in 2006 and matched in 2010.

BENNETT OFF AND RUNNING Sophomore outfielder Elena Bennett carries a 13-game hitting streak into Tuesday's doubleheader at Abilene Christian as she hit .700 (7-of-10) with three stolen bases at last weekend's MSU Invitational. She is hitting .585 during the 13-game streak with 14 runs scored and 13 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. Bennett has been successful on 38 of 42 career stolen base attempts.

YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS Senior pitcher Kristina Gutierrez came within two outs of posting back-to-back no-hitters last weekend at the MSU Invitational. The Pearland native fanned 14 batters in a five-inning no-hitter against Eastern New Mexico on Friday then took a no-no into the seventh inning before settling for a 1-hit shutout of Drury on Sunday. It was just the third no-hitter in program history as former All-American Katie Petersen notched a pair of perfect games in 2010.

BINGHAM DRIVES 'EM HOME Sophomore outfielder Courtney Bingham earned LSC North Division Player of the Week honors after hitting .500 (11-of-22) with four triples and 10 RBIs to help the Mustangs to a 5-1 showing at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Invitational from Feb. 11-13. Bingham continued her hot stretch last weekend at the MSU Invitational as she hit .500 with a double, a homer and eight RBIs. She continues to lead the LSC with RBIs with 23.

BINGHAM ON A ROLL Sophomore outfielder Courtney Bingham extended her hitting streak to nine games by collecting hits in each of the four games at last weekend's MSU Invitational. The Arlington product is hitting .500 (15-for-30) during the streak with a double, four triples and a homer while driving 18 runs.

MALLORY SHOOTS IT OVER THE MOON.. TWICE Junior third baseman Mallory Mooney became the first Midwestern State player to hit two home runs in the same inning in Sunday's 13-0 win over Missouri Southern. She connected on a two-run shot to left-center early in the frame then launched a three-run opposite field blast to cap the nine-run inning in her second at bat. Mooney's 5-RBI game matched a career high as she also drove in five runs against Angelo State on March 26, 2010.

WE'RE WALKIN' Freshman Kim Jerrick leads the LSC with 11 walks while senior Amanda Potysman is next with 10 free passes as the Mustangs have drawn a league-high 62 in 16 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 46 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 114 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 112 games at MSU and has committed just three errors in 313 chances. Mooney is not just a slick fielder as she carries a .320 average at the dish with four doubles, three homers and 15 RBIs in 2011.

G STEPS UP Senior pitcher Kristina Gutierrez earned Lone Star Conference North Division Pitcher of the Week honors last week after starting the campaign with five straight winning decisions. The Pearland native has allowed just seven runs on 26 hits for a 1.08 ERA while notching 76 strikeouts and four walks in 45 1/3 innings.

TANNER MOWING THEM DOWN Senior Brittney Tanner continues to lead the LSC with 85 strikeouts and continues to flash her preseason player of the year potential. The Burkburnett product is 8-1 while allowing 11 earned runs on 44 hits for a 1.41 ERA and walked just seven batters in 54 2/3 innings.

-- 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

#19 Katie Petersen: P; 5' 6"; Senior; S/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

#19 Katie Petersen
: 5' 6"; Senior; S/R
: P

#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