Biography
Honors
MVC All-Tournament Team: 2023, 2024
MVC Scholar-Athlete: 2024 (HM)
NFCA Scholar-Athlete: 2023
CSC Academic All-District Team: 2024
MVC Honor Roll: 2019-20, 2020-21
MSU Athletic Director's Honor Roll: Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Fall 2023
Career Summary
Made 106 appearances in the circle with 60 starts across her five-year career…Owned a career 3.34 ERA with a 26-30 record, 21 complete games, eight saves and 214 strikeouts in 369.1 innings pitched for the Bears…Closed out her career tied for the top mark in single-season saves (7), which she achieved in her final season.
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2024 (Senior)
MVC All-Tournament Team selection… MVC Scholar-Athlete Team Honorable Mention…Named to the CSC Academic All-District Team…Made 42 appearances in the circle, including 27 starts…Owned a 3.96 ERA, a 7-17 record and tossed 11 complete games on the year…Led the MSU pitching staff in ERA, innings pitched (157.1), strikeouts (71) and opposing batting average (.274)…Tied the Missouri State single-season record with seven saves, which also ranked eighth nationally and first in the MVC…Also ranked 17th nationally in pitching appearances...Ranked fifth in the MVC in innings pitched…Came on in relief in the eighth inning to earn the save, shutting the door on Army after forcing the Black Knights to go three-up, three-down to end the game (Feb. 9)…Collected her second save after tossing 2.0 hitless innings to secure a one-run win for the Bears at Southern Miss (Feb. 17)…Struck out a season-high five batters at Louisiana Tech (Feb. 23)…Earned her first win of the season against Murray State with a complete-game effort, allowing just one earned run on five hits and striking out three (March 29)…Followed up with save number five the next day against the Racers – allowing no hits and striking out three in 2.0 innings of work (May 30)…Threw a complete game on the road at Belmont to even the series (April 13)…Recorded two victories in the Valparaiso series, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out six Beacons across 12.0 innings (April 19-21)…Came back into the game after drawing the start to collect the save - tossing back-to-back scoreless innings to end the game at Southern Illinois (April 24)…Seventh and final save of the season came at Evansville as she secured the final two outs after the Purple Aces made it a one-run game in the seventh inning (April 27)…Hurled two complete games in the final regular season series against Indiana State (May 3-4)…Led MSU to victories in the first round and quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament against Indiana State and Belmont (May 8-9)…Put together a great effort in the circle in the loss to Northern Iowa in the MVC Tournament semifinals, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out four Panthers (May 10)…Was in the circle for all but 1.1 innings across three games at the conference tournament… Named to MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2023.
2023 (Senior)
MVC All-Tournament Team selection…Made 24 starts in 28 appearances in the circle…Led the pitching staff with 12 wins, 116.1 innings pitched and 73 strikeouts…Owned a 2.77 ERA and .248 opposing batting average…Earned her first victory of the season with a complete game shutout at South Alabama, allowing one earned run and striking out four Jaguars (Feb. 17)…Her most notable win of the season came at No. 23 Wichita State, as she hurled a complete game and allowed one unearned run while striking out five Shockers in the 2-1 upset victory (March 11)…Started the first and third games of the Drake series, allowing no runs and striking out a combined 10 batters in 12.0 total innings of work against the Bulldogs (March 17 and 19)…Earned two victories, including a complete game shutout, in a doubleheader versus Evansville, throwing 11.1 total innings, combining for eight strikeouts and allowing just five hits (March 25)…Hurled 5.1 scoreless relief innings while striking out five and allowing one hit at Murray State (May 6)…Struck out a career-high seven batters in 8.1 innings of work, as she allowed one earned run and scattered eight hits in MSU’s 15-inning loss to Belmont in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals (May 11)…Named to the MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2022.
2022 (Junior)
Made six appearances and drew one start in the circle…Pitched 12.0 innings in a season plagued by injury, while striking out seven…Tossed six innings in a start against Utah on opening day, allowing three earned runs (February 11)…Named to MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.
2021 (Sophomore)
Led the Bears with a 1.87 ERA and 26 appearances in the circle in 2021 … Started seven games and boasted a 7-3 record … Posted a league-best 1.31 ERA and .165 opposing batting average against MVC hitters … Her 26 appearances ranked 10th in the conference … Earned her first collegiate start against Mississippi Valley State (Feb. 21) … Delivered a remarkable performance against Evansville (May 7) where she struck out six and allowed just three hits in 8.2 innings of scoreless relief … Recorded her first career shutout against TAMU-CC (March 5) … Tossed 7.1 innings of one-run ball versus UT Arlington (March 6) … Earned her second solo shutout of the season after she blanked Loyola on April 25 … MVC Honor Roll … Named to the MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.
2020 (Freshman)
Appeared in 4 games as a true freshman, including start vs. Murray State (March 7) ... Threw 72 pitches vs. Murray and struck out 3 with no walks in 5.0 innings ... Took just 12 pitches to retire all 3 Jackson State hitters she faced (March 1) in relief appearance with her first assist ... Fanned 3 Abilene Christian hitters (Feb. 14) in an inning of work in Denton, Texas ... Made DI debut vs. Notre Dame (Feb. 8), not allowing an earned run in 1.2 innings (24 pitches) … Earned MVC Honor Roll status ... Named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters.
High School
Led coach Jamie Van Dever's Augusta (Kan.) High School Orioles to a 23-1 ledger and Kansas state title as a senior ... Recorded 198 strikeouts in 106.0 innings with an ERA of 0.79 in 2019 ... Earned all-state honors and league MVP distinction as a senior with Kansas Elite all-star and all-metro honors ... Was part of three conference championship teams and one runner-up showing ... Earned all-state second-team honors as a junior after earning AVCTL conference MVP laurels for a 19-2 club ... Pitched four shutouts in 10 starts as a junior, while striking out 10 or more hitters five times, including a season-best 18-strikeout game ... Was part of a state final four team her freshman season ... Also played golf in high school and was a two-time state qualifier, placing 37th her senior year, while earning second-team all-conference honors ... Played travel ball for Originals Simbeck.
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Personal
Helen G. Johnston was born 8/25/00 in Wichita, Kan. ... Daughter of Kris and Angie Johnston of Augusta, Kan. ... Has three sisters, Baylee, Sophie and Emmie ... Owns two bachelor’s degrees in Entertainment Management (Dec. 2022) and Leadership and Management (Dec. 2023)...Pursuing a master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
