Missouri State University

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State junior softball player Lauren McGinley has been named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Co-Pitcher of the Week for the period February 23-March 1, the league office announced Monday (March 2). McGinley picked up both Missouri State victories at this past weekend’s Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn., posting 9.2 scoreless innings in all to improve to 4-1 on the season.

McGinley earned a win in relief in MSU’s first game of the day Friday (Feb. 27), a come-from-behind 7-6 decision over Valparaiso. With the go-ahead run on third base, she recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning before Jessie Smith won it for the Bears with a lead-off homer in the bottom half of the inning.

In MSU’s 4-0, nine-inning win over Tennessee Tech later in the day, McGinley turned in her second shutout of the season and her second extra-innings complete-game effort of 2009. She limited the Golden Eagles to just four singles, only one of which came after the fourth inning, in a career-best nine innings of work.

McGinley’s four victories ties her for fifth in the MVC, while her 1.95 ERA is good for seventh on the conference leader board.

The Bears (7-5) will enter this weekend’s home-opening All-Missouri Classic on a two-game win streak after posting victories in their only two games at the Frost Classic. MSU will open the tournament, as well as its new softball facility, this Friday at Noon against Southeast Missouri State.