Missouri State

ERICA SHEPHERD DERRYBERRY
Softball, 1996-1999

Erica Shepherd was a standout shortstop in a four-year starting career for the softball Bears of coach Holly Hesse from 1996 to 1999, and Shepherd’s play was a key as the Bears won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1996, 1997 and 1998. A product of Bartlesville (Okla.) High, Shepherd was a two-time MVC all-conference second team selection and three-time academic all-conference pick. She was named to the MVC tourney all-tournament team three times and she also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America laurels. She turned in a solid senior season in 1999 as she set a new MSU career record in games played (216) and tied the season mark for home runs (6). Shepherd finished her playing days third in MSU history in career runs batted in (98), 10th in hits (141), fifth in runs scored (82), second in home runs (16), second in walks (76) and third in assists (344). Her two-run home run gave the Bears a 2-1 win over UNI in the 1998 MVC meet title game, and she had the game-winning RBI in the tourney title game three years in a row.