Missouri State

At Missouri State: A speedy outfielder, Ben Woodbury is a terrific hitter with a good eye for the strike zone and will spend his senior season in center while leading off for the Bears.

2007: The Bears' starting centerfielder and leadoff hitter all season, Woodbury led MSU with 68 hits and 17 stolen bases ... He finished the year with a .309 batting average and drew 28 walks for a .398 on-base percentage ... Struck out only 16 times in 220 at bats and put together a streak of 100 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout midway through the season (3/11-4/11) ... Scored 44 runs to finish second on the team, and posted a .981 fielding percentage ... Was voted the Southwest Diamond Classic MVP after hitting .545 and scoring five times in the season-opening three-game tournament ... Went 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs against Texas-Arlington (2/23) ... Had three hits at Minnesota on 3/10 and 3/11 ... Went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer versus Arkansas-Little Rock (3/13) ... Scored in the first inning of each Arkansas State game to put the Bears ahead for good ... Went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and stole two bases against Northern Iowa (3/25) ... Hit a three-run homer and scored twice versus Kansas (3/27) ... Scored four runs and had two RBIs against Southeast Missouri State (4/3) ... Went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored at Evansville (5/6) ... Had two hits and score twice against Indiana State (5/13) ... Went 3-for-5 with the game-winning run at Creighton (5/19) ... Went 3-for-4 in the MVC Tournament against Wichita State (5/23).

Background: Ben Woodbury came to Missouri State from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., where he was a two-year starter in centerfield and at shortstop and earned all-conference honors both seasons ... He owns the school record for hits and doubles in a season and the career record for doubles ... While playing for Greg Dixon at West Plains High, Woodbury was a four-year starter at shortstop and earned second-team all-state honors as a junior and senior, and was also a first-team all-conference and all-district pick in those seasons ... Also played football and basketball in high school.

Personal: Benjamin Joseph Woodbury is the son of Gary and Jolaine Lashley ... Born February 21, 1986 ... Has three siblings, Josh, Kelly and Zack ... A hospitality and restaurant administration major at MSU.