THE RUNDOWN
LUBBOCK – Midwestern State overcame an early 4-0 deficit in the day's first game to knock off Chadron State, 6-4, on Ashley Fletcher's two-run dinger in the top of the seventh. In the second game, the Mustangs again utilized the long ball with a pair of two-run homers to upend Lubbock Christian, 6-4.
 
In the first game, Chadron State hung a three-spot on the Mustangs in the first after three walks, a pair of errors and a wild pitch. The Eagles tacked on another run in the bottom of the third following a leadoff walk and a two-out error to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
MSU came alive offensively in the top of the fourth, pushing across the equalizer. Ashley Fletcher worked a seven-pitch leadoff walk to get things going and Kelsey Knox reached on an error on a grounder to second. Senior catcher Amanda Thomas belted Jessica Jarecki's 2-2 offering to deep left-center, clearing the fence and pulling MSU within one. Kelcee Thompson doubled down the right field line and advanced to second on a throwing error on the ensuing at-bat. With two outs, Kelsey Eropkin hit a hard grounder off the glove of first baseman Kayla Michel and beat the throw, allowing Thompson to score and tie the game.
 
Junior pitcher Riley Adams came on in relief in the bottom of the third and gave the Mustangs a much-needed shot in the arm. The Roseville, Calif., native tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while fanning four. The right-hander threw 41-of-61 pitches for strikes to earn the win.
 
With Adams putting up zeroes, Midwestern State was able to break the tie in dramatic fashion in the top of the seventh. After freshman shortstop Caycee Griffin collected her second hit of the afternoon on a double down the line in left, junior first baseman Ashley Fletcher lifted a long ball to right to push MSU ahead.
 
Even with the two-run cushion, the Eagles brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning after a pinch-hit, leadoff single. CSC's Kayla Michel followed with a hard-hit grounder to second that second baseman Samantha Loos flipped to Griffin, who fired with a laser to first to turn two. Adams slammed the door with a strikeout to secure the win.
 
In game two, Midwestern State strung together a big inning again to claim the lead against Lubbock Christian. After both sides exchanged runs in the second, sophomore outfielder Lauren Lindgren ripped her first homer of the season, striking for two runs after Eropkin drew a hit-by-pitch to start the inning. Later in the inning, junior Samantha Loos tagged a two-run homer, scoring Thomas.
 
The Lady Chaps scored two in the bottom of the third to pull within a run at 5-4, but the MSU pitching staff went to work from that point on. Junior pitcher Abbie Lancaster came in and allowed just two hits over the final 3.1 innings to secure the win for the Mustangs.

NOTES VS. CHADRON STATE
- The Mustangs outhit the Eagles 6-4 and held Chadron State to 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
- Both teams committed three errors. MSU allowed two earned runs while the Eagles gave up four earned.
- Junior first baseman Ashley Fletcher gave the Mustangs the lead with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh. It was Fletcher's first career hit with MSU.
- Freshman shortstop Caycee Griffin collected the first multi-hit game of the year, going 2-for-4 with a double. The Healdton, Okla., native is now 3-for-6 on the season.
- Senior catcher Amanda Thomas hit her fourth-career home run on a three-run blast in the top of the fourth. The Marble Falls native also gunned down a runner attempting to steal.
- Junior pitcher Riley Adams (1-0) tossed 5.0 innings of scoreless relief, scattering three hits and a walk to earn the win. In 6.2 innings this season, the Maud, Okla., native has surrendered five hits and one earned run.
 
NOTES VS. LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
- The pitching staff of Gracie Bogle and Abbie Lancaster combined to strand 13 baserunners against the Lady Chaps.
- Junior Samantha Loos and sophomore Lauren Lindgren each collected two hits, including a home run and two RBI.
- The Mustangs struck out three times at the plate and failed to draw a walk.
- MSU and LCU each committed two errors.
- Junior pitcher Abbie Lancaster improved to 1-1 after going 3.1 innings of scoreless relief with three walks.
- Senior catcher Amanda Thomas scored a pair of runs in the win.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back in action on Sunday, Feb. 4 against Emporia State at the Lubbock Softball Classic. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.