Jan. 21, 2015
Full MVC Release
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Missouri State softball team was selected to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference standings in 2015, according to the preseason poll of coaches released by the league office on Wednesday (Jan. 21). The Bears, who picked up 46 points, are picked behind preseason favorite Wichita State (94 points), Illinois State (87), UNI (79), Southern Illinois (74), Bradley (54) and Drake (49). Sophomore pitcher Erin Struemph was voted to the preseason All-MVC squad.
"I think it is fair where we are picked based on where we finished last season," said head coach Holly Hesse, "and until we can prove that we deserve to be picked in the top half by finishing in the top half. I certainly expect us to finish higher than that (seventh) and our players are working harder to finish higher than that."
Struemph becomes the second-consecutive MSU sophomore selected to the preseason all-conference honor roll after Mary Stephens earned the distinction a season ago. Struemph led the Bears staff with a 3.35 ERA, 155 strikeouts, three saves and a 13-12 record. She recorded the most strikeouts by an MSU freshman since 1987 when Monica Johnson had 172. On April 19, Struemph struck out 11 UNI Panthers, the highest single game strikeout total by any MVC pitcher in 2014.
Twice during the 2014 season, Struemph was named MVC Newcomer of the Week (Feb. 24 and March 24). She finished the regular season as the only Valley hurler with more strikeouts (147) than hits allowed (146). Struemph was named to the MVC All-Tournament Team after earning a complete game victory in the opening round. She struck out at least one batter in 35 of her 42 appearances including three outings of 0.2 innings pitched.
"Getting that first year under your belt, getting that experience, what it takes to compete physically and mentally at the Division I level and make that major jump in one year, is rare," continued Hesse regarding Struemph's preseason All-MVC selection. "She has a year and a half of strength and conditioning at this level now and that will help her tremendously. She is mentally calm and that is really a key to having success."
Missouri State returns nine letterwinners and five starters from the 2014 squad that finished 28-27 with a 10-16 MVC record. The Bears earned a spot in the postseason with a late rally in the regular season finale and knocked out UNI in the opening round of the MVC Tournament before falling to eventual tournament champion Bradley in the quarterfinals.
The Bears travel to Ruston, La., to open the 2015 season in the Louisiana Tech Invitational on Feb. 6-8. MSU will face Abilene Christian for the first time in school history in the opener. Missouri State opens its home slate as host of the Rally for Allie Leukemia Awareness Tournament on Feb. 28.
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