Missouri State junior second baseman Matt Lawson and junior right-handed pitcher Jake Shafer became the third and fourth Bears taken in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Draft Friday afternoon. Lawson was chosen in the 14th round as the 440th overall pick by the Texas Rangers. The New York Yankees took Shafer as the final pick of the 41st round, 1,243rd overall.

Lawson hit .270 for the Bears this season and was a defensive anchor in the middle, leading MSU with 162 assists and 47 double plays as well as 17 stolen bases. The Carl Junction, Mo., native is a career .286 hitter through 545 at bats and 149 games. He ranks sixth all-time at Missouri State with 371 assists, eighth with 91 double plays and has nabbed 38 stolen bases.

Lawson was a second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a sophomore in 2006 after hitting .330, and backed that up with an honorable mention nod this season.

Shafer battled through arm trouble all season and finished with a 1-5 record and 6.56 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. In a healthy sophomore campaign, Shafer had a 4-4 record and 4.88 ERA that included a complete-game four-hit shutout of Illinois State late in the year.

MSU pitchers Ross Detwiler (first round, sixth overall to Washington) and Scott Carroll (third round, 104th overall to Cincinnati) were chosen Thursday.

Professional clubs must sign drafted players by August 15 or the rights to that player are lost and they can reenter the draft in 2008. Lawson and Shafer each have one year of eligibilty remaining and can elect to return to school and play next season.