THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State salvaged a split in its Lone Star Conference home opener, dropping the opener to Cameron, 5-3, before taking the nightcap, 4-3.
 
The rubber match with the Aggies is set for 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Mustangs Park.
 
GAME ONE
Junior Kelsey Eropkin notched a multi-hit performance as she and senior Tucker Caraway combined to reach base in seven of eight plate appearances at the top of the MSU Texas lineup. Eropkin finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk while Caraway went 1-for-1 with three free passes.
 
Senior Misty Muniz suffered a no-decision despite a strong pitching performance in the circle. The Seabrook native matched a career-high with seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work, allowing three runs on four hits.
 
Cameron's Brenna Busby roped a leadoff home run in the top of the first to open the contest and stake the Aggies an early 1-0 lead.
 
Muniz settled into the outing and posted zeroes over the next two frames before CU tacked on another run in the top of the fourth.
 
Busby was hit by Muniz's first-pitch to kick off the fourth, moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a sacrifice bunt. The Aggies shortstop trotted home on another wild pitch to push the lead to 2-0.
 
The Maroon and Gold answered in the bottom of the inning to grab its first lead of the day with a three-spot. Freshman Bailey Wamsley deposited a one-out single into center and freshman Ashley Turner drove a single through the left-side of the infield. Caraway worked her second walk of the day to load the bases when Eropkin chopped a two-run single through the left-side of the infield. Junior Lauren Lindgren followed with a slow-roller to short allowing Caraway to score from third, 3-2.
 
A two out RBI single from Raley Long tied the game in the top of the fifth.
 
Senior Abbie Lancaster (L, 4-2) was brought on in relief in the top of the seventh. Following a leadoff single, the right-hander served up a two-run home run to Khmari Edwards on a 2-2 offering to put the Aggies on top for good.
 
Busby led CU at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Bethany Hines (W, 3-3) earned the win for the Aggies, tossing 3.0 shutout frames to close out the contest.
 
GAME NOTES
- Midwestern State snapped a season-long 20 inning scoreless streak with a three-spot in the bottom of the fourth
- Junior Kelsey Eropkin matched a career-high with two RBI, going 2-for-3
- Senior Tucker Caraway drew a career-high three walks and snapped the Mustangs five-inning hitless streak with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first
- Senior Misty Muniz matched a career-high with seven strikeouts, allowing three runs on four hits over 6.0 innings of work
 
GAME TWO
The Mustangs hung a crooked number in the bottom of the first and Lancaster made it stand-up in a complete game effort in the circle to split the doubleheader with the Aggies, 4-3.
 
The Idabel, Okla., native scattered three runs on eight hits while striking out a career-high eight to improve to 5-2 on the year.
 
Senior Carli Woolsey and freshman Ashley Turner each went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Lindgren clubbed her 15^th career home run to move into 14^th on the career home run chart.
 
Busby belted her second leadoff home run of the day to put Cameron ahead in the top of the first, but the Mustangs would answer with a big inning of their own.
 
Eropkin lined a one-out single to right-center moments before Lindgren roped a moonshot to straightaway center to grab a 2-1 lead. Wamsley reached on an error and moved into scoring position on the errant throw. Woolsey legged out a two-out single to the hole at shortstop to allow Wamsley to cross the plate.
 
Cameron chipped the lead in half in the top of the third, but Lancaster stranded a pair in the third and left the bases loaded in the top of the fourth. The right-hander continued to weave out of trouble by retiring the side in order in the fifth.
 
MSU Texas added an insurance run on an Aggies miscue in the bottom of the sixth. Muniz forced a wide throw on a slow roller in front of the plate and Woolsey moved both into scoring position by smoking a double to the wall in right. Turner poked a Texas League single into left-center to push across Muniz, 4-2.
 
The Aggies threatened in the top of the seventh, putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base. A called strike three from Lancaster against Carly Johnson gave the Maroon and Gold the split.
 
GAME NOTES
- MSU Texas moved to 8-6 overall and 1-4 in Lone Star Conference play after the split with Cameron on Friday at Mustangs Park
- Junior Lauren Lindgren blasted her 15^th career home run on a two-run bomb in the first inning to give the Mustangs the lead for good
- Senior Abbie Lancaster matched her 2018 win total with her fifth victory of the season in a complete game effort
- The Idabel native struck out a career-best eight in her third complete game of the year
- Senior Carli Woolsey and freshman Ashley Turner each went 2-for-3 with an RBI
 
UP NEXT
MSU Texas returns to the diamond on Sat., Feb. 23, against Cameron. First pitch at Mustangs Park is slated for 7 p.m. with the Aggies.