THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS – Midwestern State rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the sixth to complete the upset of 11^th-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce, 5-4, on a beautiful Friday evening at Mustangs Park.
 
Sophomore first baseman Carli Woolsey capped a three-run sixth with a two RBI double to the alley in right-center, finishing 1-for-3. Senior pitcher Gracie Bogle held the Lions in check for much of the night to improve to 2-2 on the season. The Tulsa native limited the high-powered TAMUC offense to three runs, none earned, on five hits while matching a season-high with five strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work.
 
The Mustangs wasted no time in putting runs on the board. Sophomore outfielder Tucker Caraway opened the home half of the first with a triple to center. Sophomore outfielder Kelsey Eropkin was hit by Emily Otto's 1-2 offering to put runners on the corners before senior third baseman Kelcee Thompson broke the scoring seal, lining a single to center. With two outs, sophomore outfielder Lauren Lindgren skied a popup on the infield that was dropped by third baseman Kimber Neal, allowing Eropkin to score and give MSU a 2-0 advantage.
 
Despite putting runners aboard in every inning, Bogle consistently worked her way out of trouble. The right-hander stranded eight baserunners over the first five innings, including leaving multiple runners on in the second, fourth and fifth.
 
TAMUC eventually capitalized on a pair of free passes and an error to take the lead in the top of the sixth. Vanessa Avina drew a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position with one out when Neal reached on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt. Bri Sims loaded the bases, working a walk before Ciera Nunez lifted a sacrifice fly to center to put the Lions on the board. Baylea Higgs followed with an infield single deep in the hole at short while Neal scored from second to take the lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Thompson was hit by Neal's first offering to start the Mustangs' rally. Senior catcher Amanda Thomas lined an opposite-field shot to the right-center alley, bringing freshman pinch-runner Marley Eller 60-feet from tying the game. Lindgren smoked a single to left, easily scoring Eller and tying the game.
 
With runners on first and second, Woolsey stepped to the plate. Jumping on the first pitch she saw, the Enid, Okla., native deposited a double into the right-center alley to give MSU the lead and an insurance run going to the seventh.
 
Junior reliever Abbie Lancaster was called upon after Riley Adams surrendered a leadoff walk to Mariah Jameyson and a double by Vanessa Muro. With the tying run on second and no outs, Lancaster induced a routine popup to first and got Jodie Hill to ground out to second. After a walk and a stolen base, the Idabel, Okla., native struck out Taylor Pruitt on a 3-2 pitch to close out the win and earn her fourth save of the year.
 
GAME NOTES
- The Midwestern State pitching staff held the 11^th-ranked Lions to a .143 average (3-for-21) with runners on base and .083 (1-for-12) with runners in scoring position.
- Junior second baseman Samantha Loos reached safely for the 15^th-straight game, drawing a one-out walk in the third.
- Sophomore outfielder extended her hitting streak to five with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the first.
- Senior pitcher Gracie Bogle earned the win to improve to 2-2. The right-hander held the Lions to three hits over the first five innings and did not allow an earned run.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back on the diamond Saturday, March 10, with a doubleheader against Texas A&M-Commerce. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Mustangs Park.