Patrick Johnston/MSU Athletics

Senior pitcher Brittney Tanner leads NCAA Division II with 10 shutouts.

Softball 4/8/2011 7:00:00 AM MSU Sports Information

No. 2 Mustangs set for weekend series at Southwestern Oklahoma

Setting the Stage

No. 2 Midwestern State resumes Lone Star Conference North Division play with a three-game set at Southwestern Oklahoma this weekend in Weatherford.

The Mustangs (35-4, 5-1) enter the series holding a three-game lead over second-place Southeastern Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma as MSU closes the regular season with 12 of its final 14 games against North Division competition.

Southwestern Oklahoma (15-11, 4-5) enters the weekend tied for fifth two games out of the fourth and final berth in the LSC Championships set for the first week of May in Durant.

The Mustangs and Bulldogs play a single Friday at 3 p.m. before closing out the series with a twin bill slated for 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Where to Find the Game

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

Mustangs Quick Notes

(Last Week) Midwestern State claimed its second consecutive Lone Star Conference Crossover title after rolling to a 5-1 mark against South Division member last weekend at Texas Bank Sports Complex in San Angelo. The Mustangs claimed wins over then-No. 2 Angelo State and No. 15 West Texas A&M during the tournament.

(Next Week) MSU hits the road for a non-divisional doubleheader Tuesday at Texas Woman's before returning to Mustangs Park for three-game series against Central Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday.

(MSU climbs to new heights nationally) Midwestern State claimed the highest national ranking in program history when it moved to No. 2 in the National Fast-pitch Coaches' Association Top 25 this week. The Mustangs also received a first-place vote for the first time since the softball program was reformed in 2004. MSU finished the 2010 regular season ranked No. 3 before regaining the position a week ago.

(Mustangs top the region) Midwestern State moved past Angelo State to claim the top spot in the NCAA II South Central Region rankings, but the Mustangs are just one of six Lone Star Conference squads in the ranking including No. 2 Angelo State, No. 5 West Texas A&M, No. 7 Central Oklahoma, No. 8 Southeastern Oklahoma and No. 10 East Central.

(Shutting them down) Midwestern State's Brittney Tanner and Kristina Gutierrez rank 1-2 in NCAA Division II with a combined 19 shutouts. The mark easily stands as a school record, but the duo is creeping up on a pair of Lone Star Conference marks. Southeastern Oklahoma set the team record with 22 blankings in 2000, while SOSU's Starla Payne (2000) and Christina Cearley (2003) share the individual mark with 14 shutouts.

(3 Megan Chartier) Chartier was named to the LSC Crossover All-Tournament team after delivering a stellar performance out of the No. 2 position in the order. The sophomore from Gatesville hit .412 by going 7-for-7 while scoring six runs and stealing seven bases. With the six stolen bases, Chartier moved to sixth on MSU's all-time steals list with 24.

(4 McKenzie Sickler) Sickler shook out of a slump with a bases loaded, bases clearing double in an 11-1 win over Texas Woman's Sunday afternoon in San Angelo. The senior shortstop from Troy hit .250 with a pair of doubles and five RBIs. She also stole home against TWU.

(5 Nicki Duff) An injury limited junior outfielder Nicki Duff to three at bats at the LSC Crossover last weekend. The Plano native was 1-for-3 and reached on an error before leaving after a collision at first base in the fourth inning of Friday's 8-0 win over No. 2 Angelo State.

(6 Elena Bennett) Bennett struggled to a .235 batting average (4-for-17) at the LSC Crossover last weekend, but still leads the league in hitting at .461. The sophomore from Carrollton notched three stolen bases and ranks third in the LSC in thefts with a school record 29 this season.

(7 Kallie Noble) Noble appeared in five games at the LSC Crossover and stole her second base of the season. The freshman from Albany has seen action - primarily as a pinch runner - in 25 games this season.

(9 Alyson Reynolds) Reynolds collected a hit in four of MSU's six games while hitting .375 (6-for-16) at the LSC Crossover last weekend in San Angelo. The senior first baseman brought her season average to .340 with four doubles, a triple and three homers while driving in 19 runs.

(10 Mallory Mooney) Mooney garnered LSC Crossover All-Tournament honors after hitting .438 with five doubles while notching five RBIs. The junior third baseman improved her season average to .347 and stands third in the LSC with 13 doubles. Mooney also stands second in the league with 37 RBIs.

(12 Carey Campbell) Campbell drove in runs with each of her two hits in the LSC Crossover last weekend including her second career home run. The sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M. struggled to a .139 batting, but managed to work the count for five walks for a .389 on-base percentage for the weekend. Campbell hasn't committed an error from her second base position in 11 games while handling 25 chances flawlessly.

(14 Courtney Bingham) Bingham has missed the last 16 games with injury after going for multiple hits in six of her last nine games. The sophomore from Arlington ranks second in the nation with five triples and is enjoying a stellar campaign hitting .453 with six doubles, five triples and two homers while driving in a team-high 32 runs.

(15 Amanda Potysman) Potysman slugged her fifth homer of the season - a three-run shot to left field - in MSU's 9-2 win over Abilene Christian and drove in five runs to help the Mustangs to their second straight LSC Crossover title last weekend. The senior leads the team with a .571 batting averge during LSC North Division play.

(16 Kim Jerrick) Jerrick launched her ninth home run of the season - a solo shot in the sixth inning of a 2-0 win over No. 15 West Texas A&M on Saturday - to match the most homers by a frosh in program history. The freshman from Belle Plaine, Kan is ninth in NCAA II and tops the LSC with a .562 on-base average. Jerrick hit .313 with a double, a homer, four RBIs and drew four walks at the LSC Crossover.

(17 Kristina Gutierrez) Gutierrez delivered ninth shutout of the season with a dominating 14-strikeout two-hitter in a 2-0 win Saturday over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The senior hurler ranks second in the nation in the category. She is also 11th in NCAA II in strikeouts per seven innings (10.2), 29th in ERA (1.28), 15th in walks per seven innings (0.83) and 17th in hits allowed per seven innings (3.97).

(24 Courtney Ford) Ford saw her first game action since Feb. 13 when she pinch-ran and scored a run in MSU 11-1 win over Texas Woman's Sunday in the LSC Crossover in San Angelo. The freshman from Graham has now appeared in eight games while hitting .429 with a pair of RBIs.

(25 Brittney Tanner) Tanner garnered Lone Star Conference North Division Pitcher of the Week honors after notching a pair of 2-hit shutouts against No. 2 Angelo State and No. 15 West Texas A&M. The senior from Burkburnett leads NCAA Division II with 10 shutouts and ranks second in the national with 21 wins, 13th in ERA (0.98), fifth in strikeouts (205) and 11th in hits allowed per seven innings (3.97). Tanner has allowed just one earned run in her last seven starts.

About the Bulldogs

Southwestern Oklahoma (15-11, 4-5) won three of its five games at last weekend's Lone Star Conference Crossover in San Angelo due in large part to the pitching of sophomore Katie Raines.

Raines didn't allow an earned run in 21 innings of work including shutouts of Tarleton State and Abilene Christian. She upped her season mark to 9-5 with a 2.02 ERA.

Junior Sara Harwell leads the Bulldogs' attack while hitting .373 with eight homers and 15 RBIs, while freshman leadoff hitter Summer Blackowl hits .33 with three doubles, a triple and eight RBIs.

Junior Cassie Chambless gives SWOSU a formidable No. 2 in the circle posting a 6-6 mark with a 3.37 ERA.

The Bulldogs have won two of its three LSC North Division series taking two of three from Cameron and Northeastern State, but was swept by Southeastern Oklahoma.

About the Series

Midwestern State and Southwestern Oklahoma meet for the 30th, 31st and 32nd time on the diamond this weekend in Weatherford.

The Mustangs own a commanding 23-6 edge and have won the last the last 10 games in the series and 14 of the last 15.

MSU has won 10 of its 14 games against the Bulldogs in Weatherford.

Southwestern Oklahoma's last win came by a 4-1 count on March 1, 2008 at SWOSU Field.

-- 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

#12 Carey Campbell: IF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#3 Megan Chartier: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R

#5 Nicki Duff: OF; 5' 6"; Junior; L/R

#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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#12 Carey Campbell
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#3 Megan Chartier
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#5 Nicki Duff
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/R
: 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