GULF SHORES, Ala. – Midwestern State opened up the Gulf Coast Invitational with a 3-2 ninth-inning victory over Southern Nazarene (Okla.) Friday afternoon at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

With the international tiebreaker rules in effect, Midwestern State (3-3) placed senior center fielder Haley Howerton on second base to begin the top of the ninth. After moving to third on a groundout, Southern Nazarene's (0-1) second error of the game proved to be costly as Howerton crossed home plate to give the Mustangs a 3-2 advantage. In the bottom of the ninth, the Crimson Storm were unable to even up the contest as a strikeout and a pair of groundouts helped the Mustangs prevail.

Midwestern struck first in the third inning as freshman right fielder Taylor Mordecai recorded her first collegiate home run with a shot to left field to put the Mustangs ahead 1-0.

MSU was three outs away from a win before an RBI double from center fielder Jill Clemence evened up the score at 1-1 to send the game to extra innings.

Both teams added a run in the eighth as a single from sophomore catcher Amanda Thomas advanced senior third baseman Chelsey Wall to third before coming home on a SNU error in the outfield. The Crimson Storm plated a run in the bottom half as a groundout and sacrifice fly pushed the game to nine innings.

Redshirt freshman pitcher Peyton Helton (1-2) threw a complete game for the Mustangs, allowing five hits, a walk and an earned run while striking out five.

Mordecai, Thomas and junior designated hitter Baylee Voigt tallied the three MSU hits with Mordecai finishing with a team-high two RBI.