THE RUNDOWN
DENTON, Texas – Midwestern State put up five runs in the third and fifth innings to take the series opener 10-2 over Texas Woman's Saturday at Diane Baker Field. In Game 2, the MSU pitching staff held the Pioneers hitless for the first four frames before surrendering a four-spot in the fifth in a 4-0 setback to settle for a split.
 
The Mustangs move to 14-20 on the season and 8-18 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
In the opener, MSU's top four hitters in the lineup including Tucker Caraway, Kelsey Eropkin, Lauren Lindgren and Amanda Thomas combined to go 9-for-15 with seven runs, six RBI, three doubles and a home run to power the Mustangs offense. Caraway and Eropkin each logged three hits, going 3-for-4.
 
Starting pitcher Abbie Lancaster bounced back after surrendering a run in the bottom of the first to keep the Pioneers in-check. The junior gave up two runs (one earned) on nine hits with a season-best no walks while striking out five in five innings of work.
 
Trailing 1-0, MSU loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third. After a pair of popups, freshman Marley Eller singled up the middle to tie the contest before a two-run double from junior Carli Woolsey gave the Mustangs the lead for good, up 3-1. A walk and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch from freshman shortstop Caycee Griffin added another when Caraway beat out an infield single to extend the inning and plate another run.
 
In the fifth, the Maroon and Gold extended the lead even further with its second five-run inning of the day. With Woolsey and Caraway aboard, Eropkin and Lindgren rifled back-to-back doubles to drive home three. Thomas capped the scoring with her team-leading sixth long ball of the season, a two-run blast against the wind to left.
 
In the nightcap, the MSU pitching staff of Gracie Bogle, Tucker Caraway and Kelsey Knox held the Pioneers to just two hits, but five walks allowed TWU to plate its four runs.
 
Bogle stymied TWU, tossing three innings of no-hit ball to start the game. The tall right-hander struck out five of the 11 batters faced and worked around a walk to keep the game scoreless.
 
Caraway was tagged with the loss despite not allowing a hit. The Whitewright native gave up three walks and a HBP, exiting with two aboard in the bottom of the fifth.
 
With the no-hit bid still intact and the bases-loaded, TWU's Hazel Puempel broke up the no-no on an RBI infield single to scratch across the game's first run. Jordan Kisselburg followed, lining a two-run single into left to stretch the lead to 3-0 before a fielder's choice added the fourth run for the Pioneers.
 
The Mustangs were limited to five hits in the setback, with Eropkin extending her hitting streak to nine games after a pair of multi-hit efforts.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back on the diamond on Sunday, April 15, for the series finale against Texas Woman's. First pitch is slated for noon in Denton.