THE RUNDOWN
BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Midwestern State earned a split in the UAM D2 Challenge on Saturday, suffering a 6-3 loss to Northwest Missouri State before rallying to knock off Missouri Southern State, 4-2, in the nightcap. MSU Texas improves to 5-2 following the split.
 
GAME ONE
Freshman Bailey Wamsley went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and senior Abbie Lancaster tossed two shutout frames in a 6-3 loss to Northwest Missouri State.
 
Kiana Baderdeen led the Bearcats at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Rachel Smith earned the win for NWMSU, throwing a complete game with three runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out seven.
 
The Bearcats struck starter Misty Muniz for a pair of runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Jaedra Moses was issued a full-count walk before Kaitlyn Wells hit a two-run blast to take the lead.
 
A two-out rally allowed NWMSU to stretch the lead to 5-0 in the top of the third. Following a groundout and a strikeout, Moses and Wells logged back-to-back singles into shallow left before a walk to Erin Keeney loaded the bases.
 
Baderdeen singled through the left-side of the infield to plate a pair and extend the lead to 4-0. Olivia Daugherty singled to the right side of the infield to push across Keeney and add to the lead, 5-0.
 
Senior Carli Woolsey put the Mustangs on the board with her third blast of the season. The Enid, Okla., led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo jack to move the score to 5-1.
 
NWMSU got the run back in the top of the fifth on a miscue by the Mustangs. Moses reached on an error and advanced to second on the throw to move into scoring position to lead off the inning. A single moved her up 60-feet to third when a one-out bunt allowed Moses to score, 6-1.
 
The Mustangs continued to chip away in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Lauren Lindgren led off with a single, but a fielder's choice erased the lead runner. With Woolsey on first, Wamsley clubbed her first career home run – a shot to straightaway center – to cut the score to 6-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs brought the tying run to the plate with two outs, but were unable to complete the comeback, 6-3.
 
Muniz (1-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks, striking out a career-high six.
 
GAME ONE NOTES
- Midwestern State suffered its first loss to Northwest Missouri State
- The Mustangs lead the all-time series with the Bearcats 2-1
- Freshman Bailey Wamsley went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer for her first career long ball
- Senior Misty Muniz was tagged with her first loss of the season despite striking out a career-high six
- Senior Abbie Lancaster tossed two no-hit innings, walking two
 
GAME TWO
Junior Kelsey Eropkin went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored as the Mustangs broke the game open in the sixth to take a 4-2 win against Missouri Southern State.
 
Lancaster (4-0) remained perfect in the circle, tossing a complete game. The right-hander gave up two runs (one earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out a pair.
 
Mikaela Cox was tagged with the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking and striking out three.
 
MSU Texas broke the scoring seal in the top of the third. Freshman Daylan Inkman and Tucker Caraway worked back-to-back walks. After a strikeout, Lauren Lindgren was issued a free pass to load the bags. Woolsey followed with a walk to plate the game's first run. A fielder's choice off the bat of Wamsley cut a run down at the plate, but left the bases juiced for Caycee Griffin. The sophomore wore Cox's 1-1 offering to allow Lindgren to walk home and stake the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
 
The Lions got a run back thanks in large part to a pair of errors by the Maroon and Gold. Elizabeth Windsor reached on a two-out error before coming around to score on a three-base error off the bat of Emilee Meyer, 2-1. Lancaster escaped further trouble by inducing a groundout to short.
 
MSU Texas expanded the lead in the top of the sixth. After Caraway reached via an error with one out, Eropkin lined her second double of the night, allowing the speedy Caraway to score from first, 3-1. Lindgren followed with an RBI single up the middle to push across Eropkin and extend the advantage to 4-1.
 
MSSU put the game tying run on-base in the bottom of the seventh. Sidnie Hurst led off the frame with a pinch-hit double. She advanced to third on a groundout. Lancaster snared a line drive off the bat of Meyer for the second out of the inning. Angel Badalamenti recorded her second hit of the day on a single through the left-side of the infield to push Hurst home.
 
Lancaster finished off the Lions with an easy groundout to second.
 
GAME TWO NOTES
- Midwestern State remained unbeaten against the Lions, 5-0
- Senior Abbie Lancaster registered the team's first complete game performance of the season
- Junior Kelsey Eropkin went 3-for-5 with two doubles, adding an RBI and a run scored
 
UP NEXT
MSU Texas returns to the diamond on Tues., Feb. 12, in the home opener against Southwestern Oklahoma State. First pitch in the doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. at Mustangs Park.