KINGSVILLE, Texas - No. 23 Midwestern State shrugged off its first loss of the season with a pair of dominating performances as the Mustangs claimed five wins in six games this weekend at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Invitational.

MSU rolled to an 8-0 run-rule victory over Southern Arkansas in five innings before avenging its lone setback with a 7-2 victory over the host Javelinas to improve to 11-1 on the season.

"Overall, it was a good weekend," MSU coach Brady Tigert said. "We played OK this weekend, but not great. There are certain situations still where we need to think more and execute better. I'm just looking for everyone to do what they are capable of."

Sophomore outfielder Elena Bennett caught fire over the weekend to extend her hitting streak to nine games while using her speed to leg out five consecutive multiple-hit games. The Carrollton native went 13-of-21 (.619) from the plate and notched nine stolen bases and scored seven runs at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Invitational.

"She is really in a groove right now," Tigert said of Bennett, who is hitting .548 (17-of-31) during her 12-game hitting streak while stealing 10 bases.

Bennett put the Mustangs on the board in the first inning against Southern Arkansas as she reached on a fielder's choice and stole second before coming around to score on a Courtney Bingham single.

It was the first of four RBIs for Bingham, who also lasered a three-run triple to the left-field gap to key a six-run fourth inning as the Mustangs put away the Muleriders, who fell to 1-4. She would finish the game going 2-for-3 and scored a run while Amanda Potysman had two hits of her own as MSU legged out 10 hits.

Kristina Gutierrez pitched her second shutout of the weekend fanning nine while allowing two hits to improve to 5-0 on the season.

The Mustangs didn't waste any time in jumping on Texas A&M-Kingsville in the finale.

And, again, it was Bennett who got MSU off on the right foot as she slapped a one-out single to right field as part of a three-run, four-hit first inning as Mallory Mooney, Alyson Reynolds and Potysman all drove in runs in the frame.

The Mustangs persistent attack netted 15 hits as they added runs in the third on Kim Jerrick's first collegiate home run, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Bingham and pitcher Brittney Tanner notched three hits each, while Bennett, Jerrick and Reynolds had two hits apiece.

Tanner improved to 6-1 in the circle allowing one earned run on six hits as she notched 10 strikeouts for the third straight outing and for the fifth time this season.

Midwestern now heads home to host its first invitational tournament of the season beginning with a pair of games Friday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

Game Notes

Bingham named MVP, four others on all-tournament squad: Sophomore outfielder Courtney Bingham was named ot the all-tournament team after hitting .500 with four triples and 10 RBI to help the Mustangs to a 5-1 showing at the Texas A&M-Kingsville Invitational. She was joined on the team by freshman catcher Kim Jerrick (.400, 3 XBH, 4 RBI), junior third baseman Mallory Mooney (.353, 4 runs), sophomore outfielder Elena Bennett (.619, 7 runs, 9 stolen bases) and senior pitcher Kristina Gutierrez (3-0, 0.44 ERA, 23 Ks).