WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Incarnate Word blitzed Midwestern State for three home runs as the Cardinals rolled to a 12-3 run-rule win over the 3rd-ranked Mustangs in six innings during Game 2 Thursday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

It was the first run-rule loss of the season for MSU which fell to 32-6 on the season.

The Mustangs return to Lone Star Conference North Division play with a return twin bill against East Central (Okla.) Saturday afternoon in Ada. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

Lea Padilla belted a two-run shot to center field to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the first inning and Melissa Padilla highlighted a four-run third with a three-run double to the left field gap as UIW constructed a 6-0 lead through the first three innings.

The Mustangs, who managed just two hits over the first three frames against UIW starter Briana Sanchez, got things going in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Freshman shortstop Natalie Rodriguez jacked her fifth homer of the season to open the frame, but the Mustangs were only able to force in one more run - on a bases loaded walk by Megan Chartier - despite having six-straight players reach base.

MSU would leave the bases loaded again in the fifth with its lone run coming on Alyson Reynolds' single down the left-field line. The run averted the run-rule loss if only for an inning.

UIW shortstop Alex Carraman, who highlighted a three-run fifth inning with her second homer of the season, narrowly missed her second homer of the game but settled for a run scoring double in the sixth. She would come around to score on Monica Acuna's run-scoring single to give the Cardinals a nine-run cushion.

Sanchez, who improved to 16-5, allowed three runs - all earned on 10 hits as she struck out six and walked two in the complete game victory.

MSU's Kristina Gutierrez took the loss for MSU to fall to 6-2. The junior surrendered 12 runs on 12 hits in six innings.

Elena Bennett, Lauren Craig, Rodriguez and Reynolds each had two hits to paced the Mustangs' 10-hit attack as Craig extended her season-best hitting streak to eight games.

Incarnate Word improved to 20-17.