THE RUNDOWN
MESQUITE, Texas -  The Midwestern State softball team's offense came alive late in the day, striking for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to earn a split at the North Texas Softball Bash. In the opener, the Mustangs dropped a 3-1 decision to Oklahoma Baptist before defeating Newman, 7-5, in the nightcap.
 
MSU moves to 5-2 on the young season following the split.
 
Against the Bison, Lauren Lindgren went 1-for-3, driving home Kelsey Eropkin who led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double to cut the MSU deficit to 3-1. Starting pitcher Gracie Bogle was saddled with the loss, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks over 4.0 innings. Reliever Abbie Lancaster put up zeroes, going 3.0 innings of scoreless relief, scattering one hit and a walk while fanning two
 
OBU broke the scoring seal in the top of the third after a pair of singles from Reyes and Long put runners on the corners. With one out, the Bison went for the double steal. Amanda Thomas cut down the would-be base-stealer at second, but the throw back to the plate came in late, allowing OBU to take a 1-0 lead.
 
In the fourth, the Bison tacked on two more to stretch the lead to 3-0 on a leadoff single by Grimes and a Flanagan double to right center.
 
MSU brought the tying run to the plate in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but was unable to push across the equalizer in the 3-1 setback.
 
In the nightcap, Eropkin went 2-for-4 with a long ball, scoring a pair of runs while Thomas finished 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Reliever Tucker Caraway improved to 1-0, tossing 2.2 shutout innings before giving way to Lancaster with two outs and the bases-loaded in the seventh. Lancaster slammed the door, getting a flyout to center to earn her third save of the season.
 
Both teams went back and forth through the first five innings, with the Mustangs eventually taking the lead for good in the fifth. Eropkin got the party started, leading off the frame with a long ball to left. MSU put runners on the corners with one out when Kelcee Thompson reached on an error.
 
Called on to pinch-hit, Bogle came through, rifling a single through the right-side, scoring one. After a groundout, Carli Woolsey lifted a gapper to right to plate a pair and give MSU the lead.
 
Despite breezing through the sixth, the Jets made things interesting in the seventh, putting the tying run in scoring position with two outs. Lancaster entered and got a ground ball to short, but an error allowed Newman to extend the game. The right-hander induced a flyout to center to secure the win for the Mustangs.
 
NOTES VS. OKLAHOMA BAPTIST
- The Mustangs went 1-for-10 with runners on base and allowed the Bison to go 4-for-14 (.286)
- Outfielder Lauren Lindgren drove home the lone run for the Mustangs, finishing 1-for-3.
- Outfielder Kelsey Eropkin went 1-for-3 with a double and a run.
- Designated player Misty Muniz finished the afternoon 1-for-2 with a double.
- Starting pitcher Gracie Bogle fell to 1-1 after giving up three runs on six hits and three walks.
- Reliver Abbie Lancaster tossed 3.0 scoreless innings, scattering a hit and a walk while striking out two.
 
NOTES VS. NEWMAN
- The Mustangs went 5-for-12 with runners on base (.417) and 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
- Outfielder Kelsey Eropkin continued her strong play with a 2-for-4 performance with a home run and two runs scored.
- Outfielder Carli Woolsey drove home the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out double to right-center.
- Catcher Amanda Thomas collected two hits, a double, run and RBI.

NOTES
- Due to the threat of inclement weather, the tournament finale on Sunday between MSU and Lubbock Christian has been cancelled.
 
UP NEXT
The Mustangs continue play at the North Texas Softball Bash in Mesquite on Saturday, Feb. 10 against Colorado Christian and Northwestern Oklahoma State. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.