THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS – After stealing the series opener against 11th-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday night, the MSU Texas softball team was unable to continue the momentum, dropping both games on Saturday. The Lions recorded a 10-1 victory in the opener before a 9-1 win in the series finale.
 
Junior second baseman Samantha Loos reached base safely for the 15^th and 16^th-consecutive game, drawing three walks on the afternoon. Sophomore outfielder Tucker Caraway reached in both games as well to run her streak to 12-consecutive games.
 
In the opener, MSU cut the deficit to one, down 2-1 in the third, but would never pull closer. Freshman shortstop Caycee Griffin opened the third with a single through the left side of the infield and moved into scoring position on an errant throw back to the circle. The Healdton, Okla., product moved up another 60 feet on a groundout by Caraway. Sophomore outfielder Kelsey Eropkin drove a line drive to center to put the Mustangs on the board.
 
The momentum by the Maroon and Gold was short-lived, however, as TAMUC struck for a three-spot in the top of the fourth. Starting pitcher Riley Adams surrendered a leadoff hit-by-pitch to Jodie Hill and then walked Kimber Neal on five pitches. Playing Ciera Nunez to slap the ball, MSU shifted around to the left side and brought Caraway into the infield. With right field open, Nunez pulled an inside the park home run into the right field corner to stretch the Lions' lead to 5-1.
 
TAMUC would add a pair of runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to push the advantage to 10-1. MSU went hitless after junior Carli Woolsey's single in the bottom of the fourth, resulting in the six-inning run-rule.
 
In the second game, MSU surrendered a six-spot in the top of the third to give the Lions control before a three-spot in the sixth gave TAMUC a 9-0 lead. Starting pitcher Katie Dean held the Mustangs without a hit for the first five innings.
 
Caraway worked a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth to give MSU life. After stealing second, Eropkin beat the throw on a slow-roller to short to break up the no-hit bid. Caraway came home on a double play ball to get the Maroon and Gold on the scoreboard.
 
GAME NOTES
- Midwestern State hit .300 with runners on base and .286 with runners in scoring position in the opener, but surrendered a .409 (9-for-22) and .438 (7-for-16) average to the Lions in similar situations.
- TAMUC put the leadoff runner aboard in five of six innings and stole seven bags on the day.
- Junior second baseman Samantha Loos reached safely in both games, extending her streak to 16-consecutive contests.
- Sophomore outfielder Tucker Caraway drew walks in both contests to stretch her streak to 12-games of reaching base safely.
- Sophomore outfielder Kelsey Eropkin broke up TAMUC's Katie Dean's no-hit bid with an infield single in the bottom of the sixth in the nightcap.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back on the diamond Friday and Saturday, March 16-17, for a Lone Star Conference set on the road at Cameron. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. on Friday before a doubleheader on Saturday.