THE RUNDOWN
SILVER CITY, N.M. – Midwestern State rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete a doubleheader sweep against Western New Mexico on Friday in Silver City. The Mustangs took the first game of the day, 14-10, before closing out an 8-7 victory in the finale.
 
In the first game of the day, the Maroon and Gold scored in every inning but the sixth, pounding out 14 runs for the victory. Senior infielder Taylor Brintzenhoff became the 38th player in program history with a multi-home run game, going 2-for-4 with four RBI. Sophomore Tucker Caraway earned the win to improve to 2-2 and tied the school-record with four runs scored, the fifth-time in program history. Caraway finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 4-for-5 with a double and a home run. Senior catcher Amanda Thomas added three hits and three RBI with a homer while sophomore outfielder Lauren Lindgren drove in four.
 
In the nightcap, WNMU grabbed an early lead before MSU began to chip away. Trailing 3-0 in the third, freshman shortstop Caycee Griffin launched her third long ball of the season to get the Mustangs on the board.
 
Caraway started a rally to give MSU another run in the top of the fifth, rifling a one-out single to right before sophomore outfielder Kelsey Eropkin reached on an error. Lindgren lined a single through the left-side of the infield, easily scoring Caraway from second, cutting the deficit to one, 3-2.
 
After retiring the side in order in her first pitching performance of the season, Kelsey Knox led off the top of the sixth with a double into the right-center alley. Griffin tacked on her second RBI of the game, following with a double of her own to left center, tying the game at 3. With two outs, Eropkin lined a single back up the middle to give the Mustangs their first lead of the game before Lindgren followed with a two-run bomb to left for a pair of insurance runs.
 
A leadoff single, followed by a home run from Carolyn Castillo pulled WNMU within one before a double from Yasmeen Gastelum put the tying run on base. A groundout to the right-side and a single from Ariana Maldonado plated the equalizer.
 
A pair of singles from Marley Eller and Brintzenhoff had the Maroon and Gold in business in the seventh. Knox laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Junior infielder Misty Muniz gave the Mustangs the lead with a base-knock through the left-side of the infield before Griffin plated her third run of the day on a sacrifice fly.
 
Things got hairy in the bottom of the seventh. A one out walk followed by a double put the tying run in scoring position. An error allowed WNMU to move the tying run up to third.
 
With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Knox induced an infield popup for the second out. Despite falling behind 3-1 to Tycee Coplan, the MSU right-hander caught her looking at two-straight strikes to strand both runners in scoring position.
 
GAME NOTES
- Midwestern State's 1-5 hitters went 14-of-23 (.609) with 10 RBI, 5 doubles and two home runs.
- Senior infielder Taylor Brintzenhoff tied the school-record with a two home run performance, becoming the 38th player in program history with a multi-home run game, joining Sami Loos and Lauren Lindgren this season. Brintzenhoff went 2-for-4 with four RBI.
- Sophomore Tucker Caraway earned the win and tied the school record with four runs scored, becoming the fifth player in school history to score four runs in a game. She went 4-for-5 with a double and a home run while striking out a season-high seven.

GAME NOTES
- Junior pitcher Kelsey Knox made her first appearance in the circle, tossing 3.0 innings with four runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks and a strikeout to earn her first win of the season.
- Freshman shortstop Caycee Griffin had a season-high three RBI, going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run while scoring a pair of runs.
- Sophomore outfielder Lauren Lindgren remained hot with a 3-for-4 performance, including a two-run home run.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back on the diamond on Friday against Angelo State at Mustangs Park. First pitch in the series is slated for 7 p.m.