MESA, Ariz. - No. 23 Midwestern State flashed the strong pitching and timely hitting that made the Mustangs a national power last season Friday afternoon at the Grand Canyon University Invitational.
 
The Mustangs opened with a pair of victories taking a 6-2 win over Cal State-Monterey Bay earlier in the afternoon before powering past Western New Mexico 10-1 in six innings later in the day at the Quail Creek Complex.
 
"I feel we were a little apprehensive in the field in the first game," MSU coach Brady Tigert. We hadn't been on the field the last few days and we really need to see a lot more live pitching to get in a groove at the plate. We're a pretty good hitting team."
 
Lone Star Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year Brittney Tanner delivered a strong performance against a Monterey Bay side that received votes in the National Fast Pitch Coaches' Association preseason poll earlier this week.
 
The senior right-hander scattered nine hits allowing just two earned runs while using her change-up to notch seven strikeouts.
 
The Mustangs made the most of their six hits and scored all of their runs off of extra-base knocks.
 
Senior McKenzie Sickler drove in MSU's first two runs of the season with a two-bagger in the bottom of the second, while sophomore outfielder Courtney Bingham drilled a double over the left fielder's head in the bottom of the fourth to plate another run as the Mustangs led 3-1 through four innings.
 
The Otters rallied to within 3-2 on a run in the bottom of the sixth before junior third baseman Mallory Mooney drilled a bases loaded, bases clearing double over the right fielder's head to put the game away for the Mustangs.
 
Senior pitcher Kristina Gutierrez was the story in the second game as the Pearland native carried a perfect game into the fourth inning before settling for a 2-hitter to lead Midwestern to a 10-1 run-rule win over Western New Mexico in six innings.
 
Gutierrez faced 21 batters in six innings of work to claim the win. The right-hander struck out 11 while allowing a solo home run in the fourth inning to break up her bid for perfection.
 
The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead as Mooney's three-run blast keyed a five-run second inning as she finished the day going 4-for-8 with a pair of doubles and a home run while driving in six runs.
 
Midwestern added to the lead in the third as sophomore second baseman Carey Campbell lead off of with a double off of the wall before scoring on McKenzie Sickler's fielder's choice to third base. The Mustangs tacked on another run via a passed ball to take a 7-0 through three innings.
 
MSU put the game away with a three more runs in the sixth.
 
Sophomore outfielder Elena Bennett and senior Alyson Reynolds joined Mooney and Sickler with two hits each to pace MSU's 11-hit attack.
 
The Mustangs continue action at the GCU Invitational Saturday afternoon when they face No. 16 Grand Canyon at noon before battling Cal State-Monterey Bay again at 2:30 p.m.