LEADOFF
Midwestern State takes on Texas-Permian Basin in a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the UTPB Softball Complex in Odessa. First pitches are set for 2 and 4 p.m.
 

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Midwestern State vs. Texas-Permian Basin
Tuesday, Feb. 25 | 2/4 p.m.
UTPB Softball Complex | Odessa, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (10-8); Texas-Permian Basin (3-12)
Live Video: None
Live Audio: None
Live Stats: UTPBFalcons.com   
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Texas-Permian Basin has dropped its last four games and is 1-10 against NCAA Division II competition this season with its lone win coming against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Junior outfielder Jennifer Quam leads the Falcons' attack hitting .420 with six doubles and two triples while stealing a team-high 10 bases. Senior infielder Nikki Brailsford is the team's top power threat hitting .311 with three homers and six RBIs, while junior catcher Taylor Clancy is hitting .310 with one homer while driving in a team-high eight runs. Senior Desiree Valero paces UTPB in the circle posting a 1-7 records with a 4.30 ERA while holding the opposition to a .294 batting average in 10 starts. Junior Holly Herrington is 2-4 in four starts with a 5.68 ERA. Texas-Permian hits .266 as a team while scoring 3.1 runs per game.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Texas-Permian Basin meet for the fourth and fifth times on the diamond Tuesday afternoon in Odessa. MSU has won each of the previous three meeting including a sweep last season at Mustangs Park (3-2, 8-0). Midwestern claimed the first game between the programs by a 9-4 margin on Feb. 24 in Denton.
 
MSU NOTABLES
Midwestern State posted a 2-4 mark in the St. Mary's Rattler Invitational last weekend in San Antonio... The Mustangs played in seven straight games and nine of 10 contests which were decided by three runs or less... MSU has connected for at least one home run in 16 of 18 games this season for a total of 29 or 1.6 per game... Sophomore outfielder Haley Howerton hit .500 (21-of-42) with eight doubles, a triple and five stolen bases during a career-best 12-game hitting streak from Feb. 2-22... Junior shortstop Katy Vandewater is riding a season-best nine-game hitting streak while hitting .464 (13-of-28) during the run with two doubles, two homers and seven RBIs...  Senior catcher Kim Jerrick .500 (10-for-20) with three walks with two homers and three RBIs while scoring seven runs from the leadoff spot with two stolen bases last weekend at the St. Mary's Rattler Invitational... Jerrick posted three consecutive multiple-hit games and has nine games with 2-or-more hits this season... Freshman Baylee Voigt struck for her fourth home run in her 26th at bat of the season Sunday against Western Oregon... Freshman Erin Knox has won her last three starts posting a 2.95 ERA over 19.0 innings allowing 19 hits with 10 strikeouts and four walks... Sophomore pitcher Kat Batey hasn't allowed run in her last nine innings of relief... Batey boasts a 1.31 ERA allowing seven hits in 10 2/3 innings as a relief pitcher this season... Freshman pitcher Katlyn Holmes allowed 25 hits in 14 innings of work last weekend in the St. Mary's Rattler Invitational, but only one of those went for extra bases... Junior first baseman Katelyn Potts posted back-to-back two-hit efforts driving in a total of four runs against Oklahoma Christian and St. Mary's... Of Potts' five hit this, four have gone for extra bases including two doubles and two homers...
 
MSU UNDER BRADY TIGERT
Brady Tigert is in his 11th season at the helm at Midwestern State and is the program's lone head coach since it was resurrected in 2004. The Mustangs have averaged just over 40 wins a year under Tigert, who boasts a 411-188 (.686) record which includes NCAA Division II postseason trips in eight of 10 seasons. MSU finished as national semifinalists in 2011, claimed two regional titles (2010, 2011) and two Lone Star Conference championships (2006, 2007).
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Midwestern State opens Lone Star Conference this weekend when it welcomes West Texas A&M to Mustangs Park. The teams play a single game Friday night at 7 p.m. before squaring off for a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at 1 and 3 p.m.