Missouri State baseball players Josh Mazzola and Ben Woodbury signed free agent contracts with the San Francisco Giants organization over the weekend.

Both seniors on this year’s 40-17 club, Mazzola and Woodbury are the third and fourth Bears to sign professionally this spring. Outfielder Ryan Mantle was drafted in the 19th round by the Giants and signed last week, while reliever Matt Frevert was selected in the 28th round by the St. Louis Cardinals and signed with that club.

Mazzola completed his final season with a .304 batting average, 15 home runs and 50 RBIs while playing in 55 games at first base. A key component in MSU’s strong finish, the Santee, Calif., native hit .423 with 12 homers and 31 RBIs in the final 20 games of the season, 16 of which were Missouri State victories. Mazzola was the Missouri Valley Conference and "Louisville Slugger" National Player of the Week on May 5 and was an MVC Scholar-Athlete honorable mention pick as well.

Woodbury started every game in center field for the Bears and led the team with a .388 average on the way to first-team all-MVC honors. A two-time MVC Player of the Week, MSU Baseball MVP and MVC Scholar-Athlete honorable mention choice, the West Plains native ended the 2008 season ranking fifth in school history for hits in a season with 92, second in singles with 71 and third in sacrifice hits with nine. In his two-year career, Woodbury racked up 160 hits for a .350 average and 70 RBIs.