KINGSVILLE, Texas - Midwestern State clubbed its way to an early nine-run lead then hung on for a 17-13 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville in Game 2 Friday at Hubert Field to run its season best winning streak to eight games.
 
The Mustangs took advantage of eight errors by the Javelinas to push across five runs in the first, four in the second, four in the fourth and two more in the fifth and sixth frames to improve to 22-20 on the season and to 12-10 in LSC play.
 
The teams wrap up the three-game series with a single game Saturday at Hubert Park. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
MSU set the tone at the plate by scoring five runs with two outs in the top of the first inning highlighted by doubles by Courtney Bingham and Courtney Ford and a two-run homer by Christina Roosmalen.
 
Kim Jerrick ignited the four-run second with a leadoff homer to left field - her eighth of the season - while Bingham, Nicki Duff and Mallory Mooney drove in runs as the Mustangs pushed their lead to 9-0.
 
But Texas A&M-Kingsville retaliated with a grand slam by Jaeleen Castro to cut the lead to 9-4 then the Mustangs turned three Javs' miscues into four more runs in the fourth highlighted by run scoring singles by Carey Campbell and Elena Bennett to push the advantage back to 13-4.
 
MSU increased the lead to 15-5 in the top of the fifth inning on Lisa Licata's RBI double to right field, but the Mustangs were unable to finish off their first shot at a run-rule as TAMUK rallied for a four-spot in the bottom of the inning to pull within 15-9.
 
The Mustangs pushed across two more runs in the sixth for a second shot at a run-rule with a 17-9 edge but once again Texas A&M-Kingsville pushed across four more tallies - three unearned - to push the game to the limit. But the game ended mercifully as either team was unable to score in the seventh.
 
The combined run total of 30 was the most in MSU school history as the Mustangs fell two hits and three runs shy of establishing new single game highs while allowing the second most runs (13) and hits (16) in a single game.
 
Elena Bennett and Mallory Mooney mashed out three safeties each to pace MSU's 18-hit attack while Courtney Bingham, Christina Roosmalen and Carey Campbell had two hits apiece.
 
Brenna Hennan notched the win for the Mustangs to improve to 4-9 on the season despite allowing nine runs - eight earned - on 12 hits with one walk in five innings of action.
 
Freshman Lindsi Glenn permitted one earned run on four hits in two frames of relief.
 
Lauren Denney took the loss for TAMUK to fall to 1-6. She allowed five earned runs on six hits in just over an inning in the circle. Denise Arnold allowed 11 runs - four earned - on 12 hits over the final six innings of the game.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville dropped to 17-27 on the season and to 5-17 in league play.