ODESSA, Texas -- Midwestern State's Shelby Carter belted two home runs and drove in four runs to lead the Mustangs to an 11-3 run-rule win over Texas-Permian Basin in Game 1 Tuesday at the UTPB Softball Complex.
 
Carter snapped out of an 0-for-8 slump by blasting a three-run shot over the left-field fence to give MSU a 3-0 lead in the third inning then connected for her third homer of the season on a solo shot as part of an 8-run, 7-hit fourth inning.
 
The Mustangs, who improved to 11-8 on the season, take on the Falcons in Game 2 later this afternoon.
 
Junior shortstop Katy Vandewater extended her hitting streak to 10 games with a two-run homer to center field -- her fifth of the season -- in the fourth inning, while sophomore outfielder Chelsey Wall culminated the inning with a three-run shot to left-field for her third homer of the campaign.
 
Sophomore outfield Haley Howerton and junior third baseman Kelley Schaefer joined Carter and Wall with two hits each to pace MSU's 11-hit barrage.
 
Freshman pitcher Erin Knox won her fourth consecutive start to improve to 6-2 allowing one run on five hits in four innings of work. She record three strikeouts and allowed one base on balls.
 
Sophomore Kat Batey came on to allow a pair of runs on two hits in the fifth to snap a 9-inning run of scoreless relief.
 
UTPB's Anna Hollingsworth broke up MSU's bid for a no-hitter in the fourth inning while Taleas Marble tacked on a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth to close out scoring.
 
The Falcons dropped their fifth-straight game to fall to 3-13.