WICHITA FALLS, Texas - No. 5 Midwestern State failed to capitalize on early scoring opportunities Wednesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

But junior pitcher Kristina Gutierrez dazzled Oklahoma Panhandle State for her third shutout of the season in a unlikely 1-0 non-conference victory.

Gutierrez scattered four hits while not allowing a runner past first base as she fanned 10 and walked one to improve to 7-2 on the season.

The performance allowed Elena Bennett's unearned run in the first inning to stand up for the victory to spite OPSU's Joni Stegman's best performance of the season.

Stegman, who came in with an 8.19 ERA, limited the Mustangs to one run on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

Bennett reached when OPSU first baseman Destyni Tate-Boggs muffed third baseman Megan Nieuwenhuis's throw on a bunt down the third base line.

Bennett moved to second when Natalie Rodriguez reached on an infield single and moved to third on a well executed double steal before scoring on Lauren Craig's groundout to second base.

The Mustangs would put runners in scoring position with no outs in each of the next two innings, but was unable to string together hits against Stegman, who fell to 1-16.

The top of the order provided each of MSU's four hits as sophomore Nicki Duff was 2-for-4 to go along with Bennett and Rodriguez's infield singles in the first inning. The rest of the order combined to go 0-for-15.

Midwestern State, who won its sixth-straight game to improve to 38-6, continues Lone Star Conference North Division play with a twin bill Saturday afternoon at Cameron. First pitch is set for  2 p.m.

Oklahoma Panhandle State dropped its 27th consecutive game to fall to 2-32.