SAN ANTONIO -- Central Oklahoma got the better of Midwestern State 2-1 in a rare pitcher's duel here Saturday afternoon in the St. Mary's Rattler Invitational.
 
The loss was the third straight for the Mustangs who fell to 9-7 on the season. MSU closes tournament play with games against Western Oregon and St. Mary's Sunday at 10 a.m. and noon, respectively.
 
The Bronchos (8-6) scratched out single runs in the first two innings to stake starter Kalynn Schrock to a 2-0 advantage.
 
Schrock allowed just seven hits and fanned six, but issued five walks to earn the win.
 
The effort thwarted a solid performance in the circle by freshman Katlyn Holmes, who limited the Bronchos to two runs on 10 hits while recording four strikeouts and no walks to fall to 3-3 on the season.
 
The Mustangs struck for an unearned run in the fifth inning when Claire Hopkins, who came on to pinch run after Krisha Hamm drew a leadoff walk, scored when Kim Jerrick's single to center was mishandled to cut the lead in half. Jerrick advanced with one out, but remained stranded.
 
Holmes kept the Mustangs within reach working around a one-out triple by UCO's Hannah Justus in the sixth. She induced UCO's 1- and 2-hole hitters into groundouts to keep the score at 2-1 heading into the seventh inning.
 
Hamm stroked a double to the right-field gap to lead off the inning before Chelsey Wall worked the count a leadoff walk. The advanced into scoring position on an illegal with no outs, but Schrock closed out win by retiring Jerrick, Haley Howerton and Kelley Schaefer in order.
 
Junior shortstop Katy Vandewater went 2-for-3 to extend her team-best hitting streak to seven games, while Jerrick and Erin Knox also logged to two hits each to pace the Mustangs' 7-hit attack.
 
Howerton went 0-for-3 to end her career-best 12-game hitting streak. She hit .500 (21-of-42) with eight doubles and a triple during the hot stretch.