WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Southwestern Oklahoma popped a bloop double and pushed a bunt single into the infield as part of a two-run outburst to jump in front of Midwestern State in both teams' Lone Star Conference North Division opener Tuesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

Then the No. 21-ranked Mustangs set up the karaoke machine for multiple renditions of "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" as MSU smacked four home runs to key a 13-2 run rule in five innings in Game 1.

Junior pitcher Kristina Gutierrez then slammed the door on the Bulldogs, who came into the twin bill with a .405 team batting average, with a one-hit shutout as the Mustangs rolled to a 5-0 win in Game 2.

Midwestern State won its 11th-straight to match the 2006 squad for the most consecutive wins in school history.

After the Bulldogs scrapped for a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, Brittney Tanner settled in to allow on more hit the rest of the way as the junior from Burkburnett improved to 6-1 and flashed dominant form with nine strikeouts.

But the Mustangs definitely had the right-handers back as freshman Natalie Rodriguez belted Jenna Lilley's first offering of the game over the left-field fence for her third homer of the season.

That just started MSU's roll as Megan Chartier reached on a bunt single and Courtney Bingham was hit by a pitch to set up senior Lauren Craig, who promptly crushed a three-run homer to left center field.

The second inning proved to be the McKenzie Sickler show as the junior first baseman blasted her fourth homer of the year - a three-run shot to left center - and capped an eight-run, eight-hit inning with three-run double.

Sophomore Mallory Mooney added her fourth homer of the season earlier in the inning as the Mustangs rolled out to a 13-2 lead.

Gutierrez was the story in the second game as the junior from Pearland fanned 11 batters to improve to 5-0 on the season.

MSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a double-steal which netted a Chartier a theft of home before Craig drove in Mooney with a single to center field.

The Mustangs remained aggressive in the fourth inning when Sickler scored from second when Rodriguez reached on a wild pitch on a third strike to push the advantage to 3-0.

Junior Alyson Reynolds drove in two more runs in the fifth inning.

Midwestern State returns the trip to Southwestern Oklahoma State Saturday afternoon. First pitch in Weatherford is set for 1 p.m.
 

Quick Notes

- Junior first baseman McKenzie Sickler extended her team-best hitting streak to 11 games by going a combined 4-for-5 with two doubles, a  homer and 5 RBIs.
- The Mustangs improved to 16-1 when freshman shortstop Natalie Rodriguez occupies the leadoff spot. Rodriguez has led off two games with homers this season.
- Each of Midwestern's three starting pitchers has notched a 10-strikeout performance this season as Katie Petersen, Brittney Tanner and Kristina Gutierrez have combined 64 strikeouts the last six games.