THE RUNDOWN

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State celebrated its senior class of Amanda Thomas, Gracie Bogle, Taylor Brintzenhoff, Tayler Jerrick and Kelcee Thompson between games on Friday at Mustangs Park, but was unable to combat a pair of big seventh innings in losses to No. 17 Tarleton State. Midwestern State (15-22, 9-20 LSC) dropped the opener, 11-2, before an 8-2 setback in the nightcap.
 
The TexAnns utilized the long ball in the opener, hitting five home runs, including three in an eight-run seventh to complete the win.
 
MSU's Kelsey Eropkin belted her fifth long ball of the season in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit to 2-1 after a two-run home run from Megan Durante in the top of the frame.
 
A leadoff round-tripper from Georgia Capell stretched the TSU lead to 3-1 in the third before MSU's pitching staff of Bogle and Kelsey Knox kept the TexAnns in check for the next three innings.
 
The Mustangs closed the gap to one-run in the bottom of the sixth. Junior outfielder Tucker Caraway drew a leadoff walk and promptly stole second to move into scoring position. With two outs, Thomas lined a single the opposite way, scoring Caraway and cutting the score to 3-2.
 
Leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh, Tarleton State's first nine hitters reached base in the frame, including a pair of back-to-back homers to open the inning. Capell capped the scoring for TSU with a grand slam to left-center, clearing the bases.
 
In the nightcap, Lauren Lindgren, Caycee Griffin and Thomas all logged multi-hit efforts to have the Mustangs in striking distance, but a four-run seventh proved too much.
 
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, MSU loaded the bases with one out. After an infield popup, Carli Woolsey hit a chopper to third that was booted, allowing the Mustangs to plate a run. A flyout to deep center field quelled from Brintzenhoff quelled the MSU rally.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Lindgren took Megan Rosewell deep with a no-doubter to the power-alley in left-center, cutting the score to 4-2.
 
Tarleton hit a pair of two-run homers in the top of the seventh to prevent the upset bid by the Mustangs.

UP NEXT

Midwestern State is back on the diamond on Saturday, April 21, wrapping up the regular season against Tarleton State. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. in the series-finale.