TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Midwestern State was unable to continue its winning streak in the final game of the NSU Softball Festival Sunday afternoon as the Mustangs stranded four runners in scoring position in a 4-1 loss to William Jewell (Mo.) at the Tahlequah High School Softball Field.

Senior center fielder Haley Howerton went 2-for-4 on the day to extend her hitting streak to 12 games. Howerton batted .600 and added six runs on the weekend to help Midwestern State (12-8) record a 3-1 mark at the NSU Softball Festival and extend its winning streak to seven games before Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.

The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second with singles from junior first baseman Erin Knox and freshman shortstop Makenzi Harris to lead off the inning. The runners advanced a base on the throw after Harris' single before Knox came home on a wild pitch to give MSU the early lead.

William Jewell (4-4) struck in the fourth as three singles and a walk evened the game up at 1-1 with just one out in the frame. A bases loaded walk followed as designated hitter Maddie Greenstreet propelled the Cardinals to a 2-1 advantage.

WJC grabbed a 4-1 lead in the fifth as a single and a walk put two runners on with no outs for the Cardinals. A pair of stolen bases advanced the runners into scoring position before a passed ball extended the Cardinals lead to 3-1 with one out. Pitcher Shelby McGraw stretched the lead further in the next at bat with a double to right field for a 4-1 contest. McGraw threw a complete game in the circle, striking out four batters while allowing seven hits to move to 3-1 on the season.

Junior designated hitter Baylee Voigt, who led the Mustangs with a .636 average on the weekend, led off the sixth with a single but a strikeout left Voigt stranded at third to end the inning.

The Mustangs threatened in their final at bat with sophomore third baseman Amanda Thomas and sophomore catcher Kara Tilton reaching base on a pair of fielding errors at third. A grounder to third moved the runners into scoring position but two groundouts ended a chance at a late rally for the Mustangs.

Junior Tayler Jerrick (1-2) was handed the loss for MSU after striking out four and allowing five hits, five walks and two runs in 4.0 innings of work.

Midwestern State begins Lone Star Conference play next weekend on the road with a four-game slate at Eastern New Mexico in Portales. The Mustangs will open up weekend action Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. (CT) at the ENMU Softball Field.