April 28, 2015

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Missouri State softball team will travel to Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday for the final non-conference game of the season. The Bears (28-21) will play a single game at 3:00 p.m. versus the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (30-17).

MSU enters the midweek matchup fresh off of a record-setting home stand. Last Wednesday, senior Rebecca McPherson hit the second of three home runs in the Bears' game versus Wichita State. Her home run was the 35th of the year for the Bears, setting a new single season school mark. Then on Sunday, McPherson cracked her 11th dinger of the year, breaking the individual single season program record. McPherson enters Wednesday's game at Tulsa with an active 15-game hitting streak.

Junior Erin Duewel launched four home runs on the five-game home stand and was rewarded with the MVC Player of the Week nod on Monday. Her four long balls gives her nine home runs on the season, the third Bear this season with at least nine. Prior to this season, only three players in the history of the program had hit nine or more in a season.

Senior pitcher Chelsea Jones continued her climb on the career statistical leaders chart. With her start on Sunday against UNI, she has 93 career starts for MSU, fourth all-time. She also ranks fourth in appearances at 136 and fifth in innings pitched at 588.1.

Meanwhile, it is a freshman who leads the team in hitting. Erika Velasquez Zimmer is fourth in the Valley with a team-high .371 batting average. She has also swiped 17 bases this season, tied for second in the league.

Following Wednesday's game, MSU heads to Carbondale, Ill., this weekend to close out the regular season with three games at Southern Illinois. The Bears head into the final weekend of play just a half game back of Drake for the league lead. MSU has already secured a spot in the MVC Tournament which will take place in Wichita, Kan., May 7-9.

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