ST. LOUIS – Senior Mary Stephens earned her first career Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week award thanks to her stellar performance at the Louisiana Tech Invitational, announced by the league Monday.
 
On opening weekend, Stephens led Missouri State in nearly every offensive category, going 9-13 and jacking three home runs over five games in Ruston, La.
 
Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the first baseman went a perfect two-for-two in the batter's box while racking up three RBI. In her first at-bat of the season, she blasted a single to center field, picking up two RBI and giving MSU a 5-0 lead over UAPB. Two innings later, Stephens brought in another RBI off a stand-up double deep into left field to help lead the Bears to an 8-0 victory.
 
Later in the day against Incarnate Word, Stephens went two-for-two once again, lifting the ball out of the park both times. Her first home run of the season flew well over the left field fence and her second bomb cleared even farther, bringing in four runs in the Bears 9-1 victory over the Cardinals. Stephens brought in the lone run against Samford, a 2016 NCAA Tournament team, sending a sacrifice fly deep into left field to bring in a runner on third.
 
The first Bear to score against host Louisiana Tech, Stephens recorded her ninth RBI of the weekend late in the seventh inning. Carrying over her offensive production into Sunday's game, Stephens racked up two RBI off a double and a solo home run, ending the weekend with a team leading .692 batting average seven runs, nine hits, two doubles, 11 RBI, 20 total bases, three home runs, three walks, a .706 on-base percentage and a 1.538 slugging percentage. Stephens leads the conference in home runs, walks, RBI and total bases.
 
The Missouri State softball team returns to action next weekend at the Texas A&M Invitational on Feb. 17-19 in College Station, Texas. The Bears will play a single game against Stephen F. Austin, as well as a pair of games against both New Mexico and Texas A&M. For more information on the Missouri State softball team, visit www.missouristatebears.com