The sixth-seeded Missouri State softball team will take on seventh-seed Bradley in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Thursday in Normal, Ill. The Bears were swept in a three-game series last weekend by 22nd-ranked Illinois State to conclude the regular season at 21-28. Click here to follow all the action during the tournament, including live stats, radio broadcasts, and live streaming video.
The Opponents Missouri State and first round opponent Bradley split in a doubleheader on March 25 after a rainout the previous day. Bradley took game one, 1-0, behind a shutout from starter Ashley Birdsong and a second-inning Stephanie Ramsey RBI single. The Bears scored three unearned runs and used a three-hit complete game pitching effort from Melissa Porche to take the nightcap, 3-1.
  The Bears split with potential second-round opponent Southern Illinois in a doubleheader on April 15, also following a Saturday rainout. Missouri State won game one, 4-3, behind a Michelle Armentrout home run and a 3-for-4 performance by Jessie Smith. After picking up the win on the mound in game one, Porche was roughed up for four first-inning runs as the Salukis took game two, 8-0, in five innings.
  Illinois State, the potential semifinal matchup for the Bears, swept a three-game series with Missouri State last weekend in Normal. The Redbirds won by scores of 10-1, in five innings, 11-1, in six, and 1-0, in 12.
Series Records Missouri State holds a 38-18 advantage in the all-time series over Bradley after the teams split a doubleheader earlier this season in Peoria. The Bears lead the all-time series with Southern Illinois, 38-32, and trail Illinois State, 50-26, in potential matchups later in the tournament. In the 14 years of the MVC Tournament, Missouri State is 4-1 against Bradley, 5-1 against Southern Illinois, and 3-4 against Illinois State.
MVC Tournament History Missouri State has experienced great success in the MVC Tournament, winning four times in the 14-year history of the league. The Bears won three straight tournaments from 1996-98 and added their fourth title last year in Omaha. Coach Holly Hesse has been in the dugout for all 12 MSU tournament appearances and has compiled a 30-17 record.
  Last season, the Bears swept through the MVC Tournament with wins over host Creighton, regular season champion Illinois State, and Wichita State in the finals to capture the crown. Missouri State committed no errors and allowed no runs en route to the championship, winning all three games by scores of 4-0. Current Bears Melissa Porche, Michelle Armentrout, and Jessie Smith were voted to the all-tournament team.
Tournament Info A radio broadcast and live stats will be available for each game of the tournament by going to host Illinois State’s website at www.goredbirds.com. There will also be live streaming video available for each game, except the championship, for a fee. Saturday’s championship game will be shown live on Fox College Sports, Comcast SportsNet and Metro Sports. A tape-delay will be shown Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 13, at 11:30 a.m. on FSN Midwest.
Coach Holly Hesse Missouri State head coach Holly Hesse (Creighton, ’82) is 501-478-2 (.511) in her 19th season at Missouri State. Hesse picked up her 500th career victory in a 1-0 win over Indiana State on April 22, becoming one of only 41 active coaches to have won 500 Division I games. Last season, Hesse led the Bears to a school-record 40 wins and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Hesse’s teams have made four trips to the NCAA Tournament (1996, 1997, 1998, 2006) and have won four Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships. She also led the Bears to the Gateway Conference regular season championship in 1992 and the MVC regular season title in 1994. Last year’s second place MVC finish marked the 12th time during her tenure the Bears have finished in the top-five of the conference standings. Last season was also the sixth time the Bears have won 30 games in a season, with an average of nearly 27 wins per season since her arrival in 1989.
 The Missouri State Bears are playing in their 39th season and have an all-time record of 880-714-2.
Last Week Missouri State was swept in a three-game series by 22nd-ranked Illinois State last weekend in Normal, falling by scores of 10-1, 11-1, and 1-0. 
 Illinois State jumped to an early lead in game one, as the Redbirds plated two runs in the first, two more in the second, and three in third inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Jessie Smith ripped an RBI single for the Bears in the top of the fifth, but the Redbirds answered with three in the bottom of the frame to end the contest by the run rule. Kaprice Williams homered twice for the Redbirds and Jessie Buker hit a two-run shot to end the game in the fifth. Melissa Porche (16-17) took the loss on the mound for MSU, allowing six runs on four hits in two plus innings. Freshman Lauren McGinley relieved Porche in the bottom of the third with two on and no outs. McGinley finished the contest, allowing four runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings.
 The Illinois State offense picked up where it left off in game two, scoring three first-inning runs off MSU starter Megan Ramsey. The Redbirds broke the game open in the third, tallying four more in the frame, to extend their lead to 7-0. Missouri State found the scoring column in the top of the sixth, as Lacie Ballard doubled to score Elysha Swider, who doubled to lead off the frame. Illinois State, however, had an answer in the bottom of the sixth as the Redbirds recorded three consecutive singles and Buker completed an amazing day with her second homer of the game, and third of the day, with another game-ending blast. The Bears had five hits in the contest, including three doubles, and Smith stole her MVC-leading 17th base. Ramsey (5-7) suffered the loss for Missouri State, allowing seven runs on eight hits in three innings. McGinley pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
  After allowing 21 runs in a doubleheader the day before, the teams locked up in a pitcher’s duel in the regular season finale Sunday. Illinois State’s Shannon Nicholson and MSU’s Porche were tremendous on the mound, as the teams played 11 scoreless innings before the Redbirds’ Casey Gorrell hit a one-out bases loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 12th to give the Redbirds a 1-0 victory. The Bears outhit Illinois State, 10-6, in the game. Jana Shewmaker and Swider both turned in 3-for-5 performances at the plate to account for six of the Bears’ 10 hits. The Bears left a season-high 14 runners on base in the contest. Porche (16-18) was the tough-luck loser, despite an outstanding performance on the rubber, including seven strikeouts.
Martin Honored On April 27, senior outfielder Katie Martin was announced as one of ten finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. She had previously been named as one of 20 semifinalists for the award. Martin was nominated for the honor based on her performance on the diamond as well as her personal character and achievements in the classroom and community. Martin is the softball representative for Missouri State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and has been active in MSU softball’s fundraising and community service efforts throughout her four years.
 The winner is selected through fan balloting in conjunction with votes by coaches, media and various sponsors. The recipient will be announced during the 2007 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. Creighton’s Jamie Reiss is also a finalist for the award.
  Also, on April 12, Martin was selected as the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week for her performance during the period of April 2-8.
 The centerfielder hit safely in all three MSU games during the stretch, as the Bears defeated Wichita State and split with UNI. She connected for a walk-off double -- her third of MSU’s five hits in the game -- in the bottom of the 11th inning to drive in the only run in Missouri State’s triumph over WSU. She also had a hit and two runs scored in the Bears’ win over UNI. Martin has a 3.93 cumulative grade-point average in medical technology.
Smith Shares Award Sophomore shortstop Jessie Smith was named as the MVC Co-Player of the Week on April 30, after going 6-for-10 and hitting for the cycle during a weekend series with Drake. Smith picked up three singles, a double, triple, home run, and picked up her MVC-best 16th stolen base as Missouri State dropped two of three to the Bulldogs. Smith shared the award with Illinois State’s Amber Smith.
 The Blue Springs, Mo., native posted impressive 1.200 slugging and .615 on-base percentages during the weekend. Her home run in Sunday’s game moved her into fifth place on Missouri State’s career homers list, with 15. She is tied for fourth in a single season at MSU with her seven homers.
500-Win Club With a 1-0 victory over Indiana State on April 22, Missouri State head coach Holly Hesse joined Illinois State’s Melinda Fischer as the only coaches in the Valley with 500 Division I victories. Only 41 active Division I coaches have accomplished the feat. Hesse’ s 500th victory came in her 19th season and 975th game.
Bears Among MVC Leaders Several Bears finished the season in the top 10 of Missouri Valley Conference statistical categories. Pitcher Melissa Porche finished second in innings pitched (225) and games started (34), fourth in strikeouts (213), fifth in appearances (40), and eighth in earned-run average (2.21).
  Jessie Smith and Katie Martin finished one-two in the MVC stolen base department with 17 and 15 steals, respectively. Brooke Kempker was beaned ten times this season, ranking atop the hit-by-pitch category. Smith tied for fourth with three triples and Martin was sixth with 27 walks. Jen Carr’s perfect fielding percentage is tied atop the category, and she is one of only four players in the MVC to be errorless with over 100 fielding chances.
 As a team, Missouri State finished third in the conference with a .969 fielding percentage and 59 stolen bases.
Lineup Change After being shut out in game one of a three-game series with Evansville (3/31), coach Holly Hesse made a lineup change placing sophomore Jessie Smith in the leadoff spot and leading hitter Katie Martin in the ninth spot. The move worked to perfection, as the Bears scored nine and six runs to win the final two games of the series. Smith had a two-run home run in each game, Martin hit a three-run homer in the series finale.
 Martin relocated to the second spot in the lineup for MSU’s game against Wichita State (4/4) and responded with a walk-off double in the 11th inning of the Bears’ 1-0 victory. Smith, Martin, and cleanup hitter Michelle Armentrout are all hitting over .300 since the change. Smith has thrived in the leadoff role, recording 17 hits, 12 runs, four doubles, three triples, three homers, and five stolen bases in 16 games.
Powerful Porche After compiling a 17-8 record with a 2.17 ERA last season and an NCAA-best seven saves, junior pitcher Melissa Porche has again been a workhorse for the Bears in 2007. The hurler pitched in over 70% of the innings the team played and started 34 of the team’s 48 games on the mound. Appearing in 40 games total, Porche has compiled a tough-luck 16-18 record with a 2.21 ERA in 225 innings. She finished second in the MVC in games started and innings pitched, and fourth in strikeouts, with 213.
  The Buena Park, Calif., native pitched a no-hitter in the championship game of the season-opening Central Arkansas Lead-Off Tournament against host UCA, as the Bears captured the tournament title with a 6-0 victory. The righthander struck out 11 in the game and 33 during the tournament as she went 3-0 and was voted to the all-tournament team. She also threw a complete game one-hitter against Central Arkansas (2/10) in the teams’ first meeting.
 In a 6-0 win over UMKC (3/7), the hurler picked up her fourth complete game shutout of the season, allowing only three hits. Porche suffered two tough-luck losses against Creighton in the opening weekend of MVC play (3/7-3/8), dropping games of 1-0 and 2-0 to the Bluejays after pitching nine-inning complete games in each contest. During the weekend, Porche passed the 100-strikeout mark for the third consecutive season.
 Porche tied a season high with 13 strikeouts in game two of a doubleheader against Kansas (3/28), but again suffered the loss after the Bears were shut out. Porche was 2-1 as the Bears won an MVC series with Evansville (3/31 & 4/1), and during the weekend set a new career high in strikeouts, passing her total of 141 from last season.
 An 11-inning complete game shutout against Wichita State (4/4) evened her record at 12-12. Porche had a 20-inning scoreless streak broke in a loss to UNI (4/6) and picked up her first save of the season against the Panthers the following day (4/7) in a 10-8 Bears’ victory. Porche picked up both MSU victories over Indiana State (4/21-22), including her 21st complete game and seventh shutout in the Bears’ 1-0 win in a Sunday rubber match.
 In the Bears’ home weekend finale against Drake (4/28-29), Porche passed the 200-strikeout mark with nine K’s in a Sunday loss to the Bulldogs. Last Sunday in the regular season finale against Illinois State, Porche pitched 11 scoreless innings before allowing a walk, two singles, and a game-ending sacrifice fly in the 12th to take a tough-luck 1-0 loss.
  Porche is currently tied for second on Missouri State’s single-season charts with her 34 starts and is tied for third with 40 appearances. She is fifth all-time with 225.0 innings pitched this season. Porche’s 457 career strikeouts rank third and her 15 shutouts are fourth on the MSU career charts.
New Position, Same Results Two of Missouri State’s returning all-conference selections from last season have made position changes in 2007. First Team All-MVC selection Jessie Smith moved from right field to shortstop and Katie Martin relocated from left field to center field. The new positions have not changed the duo’s offensive production, as the two have led the Bears’ offensive attack so far this season.
 Smith and Martin are the only two Bears to have started every game this season. The pair have made easy transitions to their new positions as Smith and Martin have posted .976 and .986 fielding percentages, respectively. Smith leads the team with 87 assists and has shown great range and a strong arm. Martin has made multiple highlight-reel plays, including a fully-extended diving catch for the final out of the Bears’ 5-1 victory over North Dakota State (3/13).
One-Two Punch With the recent lineup change, Smith and Martin are now hitting in the first and second spots in the lineup, respectively, and both are hitting over .300 since the change. The pair are one-two in nearly every offensive statistical category, including sharing the team lead with 29 runs. Smith and Martin also finished as the MVC’s top two base stealers during the regular season, with 17 and 15 steals, respectively.
  Martin led the team with 45 hits, nine doubles, and 27 walks during the regular season. She also led the Bears with a .306 batting average, .414 on-base percentage, and posted a team-best 13 multi-hit games. The senior from Baldwin City, Kan., was the offensive star in the Bears’ 7-0 victory over Stephen F. Austin (2/23), going 2-for-3 with a second-inning grand slam and a sixth-inning RBI double. Martin also launched a solo homer in both games of the SLU Cancer Center Classic (3/4), in a win against Southeast Missouri State and a loss to Saint Louis. In game two of a doubleheader against UMKC (3/7), Martin was 2-for-2 and reached base four times, stole three bases, and scored two runs. The senior was again the hero in a 1-0, 11-inning victory over Wichita State (4/4) as she hit a walk-off double to score Smith.
 Smith led the Bears during the regular season with seven home runs, three triples, 25 RBIs, and 78 total bases. The Blue Springs, Mo., native led the MVC with 17 steals and has posted a team-best .520 slugging percentage and seven multi-RBI games. The shortstop is second on the Bears’ squad behind Martin with 43 hits, eight doubles, and 19 walks. Smith hit a home run in consecutive games against Evansville (3/31 & 4/1) after moving to the leadoff spot in the lineup. The sophomore’s 3-for-4 performance against Southern Illinois in game one of a doubleheader (4/15) extended her hit streak to seven games, the longest of the season on the team. The steak was snapped in game two of the twinbill. Smith had three hits, including a pair of two-run homers, and scored three runs in Missouri State’s 20-4 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2/11) at the Central Arkansas Lead-Off Tournament.
Fab Four Frosh Missouri State has four freshmen on its roster, and each has played a significant role this season. The foursome has accounted for 135 starts through 49 games this season.
  Lauren McGinley started every game this year until sitting out Sunday’s season finale against Illinois State, with 43 starts coming at first base and three on the mound. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native has 11 hits with six RBIs and three runs scored. McGinley held a perfect fielding percentage until she committed an error against UNI (4/6), and the first baseman finished 225 of 229 (.983) in fielding chances this season.
  Jodie Shead started 31 games and played in 40, including 27 starting assignments in left field. A graduate of softball powerhouse Lafayette High in Wildwood, Mo., Shead tied for the team high with five sacrifice bunts. In the regular season, she had 19 hits, four doubles, eight runs scored, 10 walks, and 23 total bases. Shead had three multi-hit games and hit safely in five straight games earlier this season.
 Dusti Foster has started all but two games this season for the Bears at second base, picking up 10 hits, three doubles, nine runs, and 13 total bases. The Stroud, Okla., native has two multi-hit games, including a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI single and run scored in game two of a doubleheader against North Dakota State (3/13). Foster’s two-run go-ahead double was part of an eight-run sixth inning in the Bears’ 10-8 win over Northern Iowa (4/7).
 Pitcher Megan Ramsey has started 11 games and appeared in 24 contests this season, and posted a 5-7 record. The Ottawa, Kan., native emerged as the number two starter for the Bears and owns a 4.01 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 82 innings. Ramsey threw consecutive complete game three-hitters against UMKC and North Dakota State earlier this season. Her first collegiate shutout came against UMKC (3/7) in a 6-0 Bears win. Ramsey picked up the win in relief in the Bears’ 10-8 victory over Northern Iowa (4/7).
Backstop Combo The Bears have utilized two catchers throughout the season with sophomore Jen Carr and junior Lacie Ballard. During the regular season, Ballard and Carr both started 24 games behind the plate.
  A native of Lomita, Calif., Carr has no errors in 155 fielding chances, which were the fourth-most chances without an error in the MVC. She also tied for the team lead with five sacrifice bunts. She hit her first career home run, a two-run shot, against Southeast Missouri State (3/4) in a 10-4 MSU victory. Carr has also started two games as the designated hitter.
  Ballard has 21 hits, six doubles, a triple, and seven RBIs this season. The St. Louis, Mo., native is fourth on the team with 18 runs scored. Ballard’s six doubles tied for fourth on the team and she recorded five multi-hit games this season. The junior has also made nine starts as the designated hitter. Behind the plate, Ballard has thrown out nine runners on the base paths.
Armentrout Finishes Strong Junior third baseman Michelle Armentrout , native closed the season hot at the plate, batting .375 in the final nine games of the regular season with two home runs, two doubles, and seven RBIs.
 In 39 starts during the regular season, Armentrout posted a .263 batting average with 30 hits, four home runs, 19 RBIs, and 50 total bases. Those totals all rank third on the team, as does her .439 slugging percentage.
 The Broken Arrow, Okla.missed nine games earlier this season with an injury, returning to the Bears’ lineup in a doubleheader sweep of UMKC (3/7). Armentrout was named to the season-opening UCA Lead-Off Classic all-tournament team, as she was 8-for-15 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, and five RBIs in the five games. In the season opener against Jackson State (2/10), the junior hit a three-run triple to account for all the scoring as the Bears won 3-2. She was the star in the Bears’ 6-4 victory over Indiana State (4/21), going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two-run double.
Shewmaker Shines While filling in for the injured Michelle Armentrout at third base from Feb. 25 through Mar. 4, Jana Shewmaker provided the Bears with an offensive spark. The junior from Buffalo, Mo., hit .360 with nine hits, 13 RBIs, and 16 total bases in the nine games she started during this time. Making her first starts of the season at third base at the Holiday Inn Select Tulsa Festival, Shewmaker led the Bears with nine RBIs and a .455 batting average in the tournament. She went 3-for-4 with five RBIs in the Bears’ 14-6 victory over Eastern Illinois (2/24). The third baseman also led the team with 11 assists in the tournament, as she earned all-tournament honors. Shewmaker also led the Bears with four RBIs in their 10-4 victory over Southeast Missouri State (3/4), which included a two-run double and her first homer as a Bear, a two-run blast.
  Since Armentrout’s return, Shewmaker has been primarily used as the team’s designated hitter. While starting only 29 games this season, Shewmaker tied for fourth on the team with 17 RBIs. She batted .261 and accumulated 23 hits, four doubles, a triple, and 32 total bases during the regular season. Her batting average and .340 on-base percentage were also fourth-best on the team. In her last eight games, Shewmaker is hitting .350, which includes a 3-for-5 performance in the season finale Sunday against Illinois State.
Bean Ball Brooke Kempker finished the regular season as the MVC leader in a category she’d rather not-- hit by pitch. The sophomore outfielder from Jefferson City, Mo., has been hit ten times this season in 124 plate appearances. She had been hit in seven of her first 34 appearances. Kempker, who has started 38 games and played in 42, ranks second on the team with a .385 on-base percentage, third with 12 walks, and fifth with a .253 batting average and 25 hits.
 Kempker was the hero of the Bears’ 1-0 victory over Indiana State (4/22), as she hit her first career home run to account for the only scoring in the contest. In game two of a doubleheader with Evansville (3/31), Kempker set a career high with four RBIs as she ripped a pair of two-run doubles to lead the Bears to a 9-1 victory.
Roberson Responds Junior Carrie Roberson made her only start of the season in game two of a doubleheader against Bradley (3/25) and responded with an RBI single in the second inning of the Bears’ 3-1 victory. Roberson has appeared in 32 games as a sub and is typically the first player off the bench, used mainly in a pinch runner role.
One-Run Setbacks Missouri State has not experienced much luck in one-run games this season, as the Bears are 4-8 in games decided by one run. Sunday’s 1-0, 12-inning loss to Illinois State ended a three-game winning streak in one-run games after the Bears began the season 1-7 in such contests. MSU has lost by scores of 2-1 to Centenary (2/18), 3-2 to Eastern Illinois (2/25), 6-5 to Tulsa (2/25), 1-0 to Oklahoma State (2/28), 3-2 to Saint Louis (3/4), 1-0 to Creighton (3/17) and 1-0 to Bradley (3/25). The Bears’ wins came in a 1-0, 11-inning victory over Wichita State (4/4), a 4-3 triumph over Southern Illinois (4/15), 1-0 decision at Indiana State (4/22), and a season-opening 3-2 win over Jackson State (2/10).
No Run Support In 13 of pitcher Melissa Porche’s 16 losses, MSU has been shut out or scored only one run. In three games this season, Porche has held teams scoreless through seven innings, only to lose in extra innings.
Early Offense The Bears are 20-4 this season when scoring the first run of the game, and 15-2 when tallying a run in the first inning. On the contrast, MSU is 1-24 when their opponent scores first, including an 1-13 mark when the opposition scores in the first inning. Missouri State won their only game when an opponent scored first on April 7 when the Bears rallied from a two-run Northern Iowa opening frame to take a 10-8 victory.
Hit or Miss Missouri State had been 15-0 this season when outhitting their opponents prior to Sunday’s 12-inning, 1-0 loss to Illinois State in which the Bears outhit the Redbirds, 10-6. When opponents have surpass MSU’s hit total in a game, the Bears are 3-24. Missouri State is 3-3 this season when hits are even.
Lucky Number 3 Through 46 games this season, the Bears are 19-3 when scoring at least three runs in a game. However, Missouri State is 2-25 this season when failing to tally three runs in a contest. MSU had been 19-1 when plating three runs, but dropped consecutive games by scores of 5-3 and 6-4 to Drake (4/28 & 4/29). In addition, the Bears are 17-3 when leading after the third inning, but 1-20 when trailing after the third frame.
In the Record Books Several current players have etched their names into the Missouri State softball record books. Junior pitcher Melissa Porche is currently tied for second on Missouri State’s single-season charts with her 34 starts and is tied for third with 40 appearances. She is fifth in a single season with 225.0 innings pitched this season. Porche’s 457 career strikeouts rank third and her 15 shutouts are fourth on the MSU career charts.
 With a home run against Drake (4/29), Jessie Smith moved into fifth place on the career homers list, with 15. Her seven home runs this season are tied for fourth-most in a single season at MSU.
 Last season, Smith scored 40 runs and hit eight home runs to rank third for a single season in each category. Her 87 total bases were also sixth-most all-time. Michelle Armentrout recorded 138 assists from third base last season to rank fifth in a single season. Her 31 RBIs are also 10th-most all-time. Smith and pitcher Melissa Porche both recorded perfect fielding percentages last season to tie atop the category. Porche also recorded a perfect fielding percentage in 2005, as did catcher Lacie Ballard.
Former Players As Coaches Fourteen of coach Holly Hesse’s former players have gone on to become coaches. Those currently coaching at the collegiate level are Annie Medico (head coach- Drury), Tina Kramos (assistant- Illinois State), Sara Cole (assistant- Evansville), and Deanna Keim (graduate assistant- Central Missouri). Also included are Samantha Fleeman (volunteer assistant) and Shannon Buslepp (student assistant) currently at Missouri State; both were members of last year’s 40-win team.
MVC Preseason Poll The Missouri State softball team was picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches poll. The Bears accumulated 57 points, finishing behind Wichita State (71 points), Southern Illinois (83 points), and preseason favorite and defending regular season champion Illinois State (86 points). Creighton was picked fifth, followed by Indiana State, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, and Northern Iowa. Senior centerfielder Katie Martin, junior pitcher Melissa Porche, and sophomore shortstop Jessie Smith were all-MVC selections a season ago. Smith was only the second freshman in school history to be named to the first team, while Martin and Porche were second-team picks. However, no Bears were selected to the 2007 MVC preseason all-conference team.
