Feb. 18, 2015
MVC Release
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Missouri State senior Chelsea Jones has been named this week's Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday (Feb. 18). It is the second time in Jones' career she has earned the honor (May 10, 2013) and she becomes the second Bear in as many weeks to pick up the league academic award.
Jones had another fantastic weekend in the circle to begin her senior season. She went 1-1 with a miniscule 1.37 earned run average over 15.1 innings pitched and held opposing hitters to a .218 average on the weekend.
Her weekend began with a start against Eastern Michigan to open the Texas A&M Aggie Classic. She earned the win in the Bears' first shutout of the season and had a perfect game through 5.1 innings. At the plate, she helped her own cause with a two-run double and a successful sacrifice bunt against the Eagles.
On Saturday, she entered in the second inning and pitched six solid innings of relief to keep the Bears in the game against Penn State. Then on Sunday, she took the ball against #22/23 Texas A&M on the road and scattered three hits over three innings pitched.
Her 2.05 ERA this season is third in the MVC behind teammates Erin Struemph (1.94) and Jessie Van Es (2.03). Jones had another perfect weekend of defense and added 15 assists on induced come-backers over her three outings.
To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. Jones holds a cumulative 3.68 grade point average and is a religious studies major at MSU.
Missouri State (6-4) will travel to Louisiana for five games at the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational beginning on Friday with a doubleheader at McNeese State (7-3). The Bears will then play host No. 6 Louisiana (9-0) on Saturday along with two games against Iowa (3-5) to conclude the weekend. MSU's home opener will be Saturday, February 28 as the Bears host the Rally for Allie Leukemia Awareness Tournament.
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