Missouri State University

Feb. 15, 2013

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Missouri State senior first baseman Stevie Pierce picked up another Valley honor as she was selected as this week's MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Friday. Pierce was named MVC Player of the Week on Monday following a phenomenal opening weekend at the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Invitational. The award is the second of Pierce's career as she earned the Scholar-Athlete of the Week nod on March 7, 2012.

To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. Pierce has a cumulative 3.67 grade point average as a psychology major at MSU.

She slugged three home runs, drove in eight runs, had 16 total bases and six two-out RBI, all top numbers among Valley players. She also had an incredible 1.067 slugging percentage while hitting .400 and scoring four runs in the five games. Pierce's three home runs this weekend tie her career high for a season, a figure she attained in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.

On Friday, Pierce looped a two-out double into left center, driving in two runs in the opener against Coastal Carolina. In the nightcap, she slammed the Bears' first home run of the season, another two-out two-RBI hit.

On Saturday, she walked to lead off the sixth, sparking a two-run inning against Georgia Tech. Then in the seventh inning, she had an RBI groundout the pulled the Bears' within one run of the Yellow Jackets. Pierce hit her second long ball of the weekend with a leadoff home run against Coastal Carolina in the nightcap.

Then on Sunday, she capped the weekend with a two-run home run in the sixth inning to seal the Bears' first win of the season. She also scored the winning run on a unique sacrifice fly to the first baseman on a head's up play in the fourth inning.

Missouri State plays Boise State and host UTSA at 2:00 and 4:30, respectively, this afternoon at the UTSA Classic in San Antonio, Texas. MSU will play Iowa State and Rutgers on Saturday and UTSA again on Sunday before returning the Springfield.