Midwestern State vs. Oklahoma Christian
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 | 5/7 p.m.
Mustangs Park | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (8-7); Oklahoma Christian (7-5)
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2

THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State concludes an 11-game homestand Tuesday as the Mustangs play host to Oklahoma Christian in a non-conference doubleheader at Mustangs Park. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
- Midwestern State opened up Lone Star Conference play with a 2-1 record against UT Permian Basin last weekend at Mustangs Park
- MSU recorded a Friday sweep against the Falcons with a 3-1 series-opening victory before posting a 5-3 win in game two
- UTPB avoided the sweep with a 6-0 victory Saturday, scoring all six runs in the final two innings
- In game one, Erin Knox allowed just hits and four base runners to earn her third-straight win with a season-high six strikeouts
- Knox also belted out a two-run homer in the first inning to lead the Mustangs
- Lauren Lindgren and Misty Muniz each finished with a career-high three hits to lead MSU to a come-from-behind win in game two
- Peyton Helton pitched six scoreless innings with six strikeouts
- In the series finale, Lizzie Souza broke a scoreless contest in the sixth innings with a solo home run before the Falcons added five more runs with four coming in the seventh in the 6-0 victory

A LOOK AT THE MUSTANGS
- Midwestern State comes into the week with an 8-7 overall record, having won seven of its last nine games
- Sophomore right fielder Carli Woolsey leads the Mustangs with a .404 average at the plate this season with a team-high 19 hits, 12 RBI and four home runs
- Freshman center fielder Lauren Lindgren went 5-for-11 in her first LSC series last weekend to climb to a .347 average with 17 hits, 10 RBI, three home runs and a team-best 13 runs scored and five stolen bases
- Sophomore designated hitter Taylor Mordecai ranks third for the Mustangs with .342 average with a team-high four doubles among her 13 hits this season
- In the circle, sophomore Peyton Helton ranks sixth in the LSC with a 2.33 ERA, compiling a 3-3 record with a pair of complete games and one shut in a team-high 39.0 innings and six starts this season
- Senior Erin Knox has also shined for the MSU pitching staff with a 2.97 ERA, three complete games and two shutouts for a 3-2 record in five starts
 
THE RYAL ERA BEGINS 
- After serving as an assistant coach for Midwestern State softball during the 2016 season, former major leaguer Mark Ryal was tabbed the second head coach in program history last August
- Ryal replaces Brady Tigert, who coached the Mustangs to nine NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons with a 486-256 (.655) career record since starting the program in 2004
- Ryal arrives in Wichita Falls following one season as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State in 2015 while serving in the same capacity at South Alabama in 2014
- The Dewar, Okla. native coached at Prague (Okla.) High School following five seasons as the hitting coach at Auburn, coaching current MSU assistant coach Caitlin Schultze during his stint with the Tigers
- The East Central alum also served as the head coach for Carl Albert State College (Okla.) following four seasons at Inola (Okla.) High School while also serving as the hitting coach for the Oklahoma baseball team during their College World Series run in 1995
- Ryal made his Major League Baseball debut in 1982 with the Kansas City Royals after being drafted in the third round of the 1978 MLB Draft
- He also spent time with the Chicago White Sox, California Angels, Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates during his professional career
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
- Oklahoma Christian returns to action following a six-day break with a 7-5 record this season including a 4-3 mark against LSC teams
- The Eagles have dropped three of their last five games playing away from home
- Kaylie Upton leads the Eagles at the plate and in the circle with a team-best .346 average in all 12 starts this season
- Upton carries a 2.25 ERA and 2-0 record into Tuesday, having allowed just three earned runs in 12.0 innings
- Madison Nordyke is hitting .324 with a team-leading 12 hits and five walks on the year
- Nordyke is also carrying the OC defense with a 2.42 ERA and 3-2 record in four starts and 26.0 innings
- Tom Heath is 686-475-1 in his 22nd season at the helm of the OC softball program
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Oklahoma Christian carries a 4-3 lead since the series began in 2014
- The Eagles defeated Midwestern State at the season-opening Southeastern Oklahoma Regional Invitational earlier this month with a 5-3 victory in Durant
- The teams split the series last season in Wichita Falls
- MSU is 2-2 against Oklahoma Christian at Mustangs Park with a split against the Eagles on February 13, 2014
 
UP NEXT 
- Midwestern State continues Lone Star Conference play Friday and Saturday as the Mustangs travel south to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville in their first true road games of the 2017 season with a three-game slate at Hubert Field. The teams take the field for the series opener Friday at 5 p.m. before a twin bill Saturday beginning at noon.