THE RUNDOWN
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Midwestern State combined for just six hits in a pair of shutout losses on Friday to Tarleton State at the TexAnn Softball Complex. TSU pitchers Jordan Withrow and Tristan Bridges hurled a pair of three-hitters to take 9-0 and 5-0 wins over the Mustangs.
 
The TexAnns utilized a pair of three-run homers – one in each game – to race out to an early edge in both contests.
 
Freshman Ashley Turner collected three of MSU Texas' six hits, going a combined 3-for-5 at the dish.
 
GAME ONE
TSU's Withrow took a no-hitter into the fourth and the TexAnns connected on three homers to sting the Mustangs in the series opener.
 
The TexAnns plated three runs in each of the first two innings to build a commanding early lead.
 
Senior Misty Muniz was saddled with the loss to drop to 7-8 on the season. The Seabrook, Texas, native allowed six runs on four hits with four walks while striking out two in 3.1 innings of work.
 
Junior Jessica Clark made her season-debut in the circle, allowing three runs on one hit with four walks and a strikeout over 0.2 innings of work.
 
Withrow took a no-hitter into the fourth before junior Kelsey Eropkin broke up the bid with a single to center with two outs. Freshman Ashley Turner followed with a single to left, but a foul popup to third quelled the threat.
 
The TSU ace finished with eight strikeouts and two walks in 5.0 innings of work.
 
Georgia Capell (1-for-3, 2 RBI), Tanna Huie (2-for-2, 1 RBI) and Destiny Crumpley (1-for-2, 3 RBI) hit home runs for TSU as the rest of the TexAnns lineup combined for one hit.
 
GAME ONE NOTES
- MSU was shutout for the fifth time this season to drop to 16-14 overall and 7-12 in LSC play
- The Mustangs matched their second-fewest hits of the season
- Junior Kelsey Eropkin broke up Jordan Withrow's no-hit bid with a two out single in the bottom of the fourth
- Junior Jessica Clark made her MSU Texas pitching debut in the bottom of the fourth, allowing three runs on one hit with four walks and a strikeout
 
GAME TWO
Bridges matched Withrow's performance in the circle in the nightcap of the doubleheader. The freshman southpaw scattered three hits and a walk in her third complete game shutout in her last four appearances.
 
Turner provided one of the few bright spots at the plate as the Cache, Okla., native went 2-for-3.
 
The TexAnns broke the scoring seal in the bottom of the first. Senior Abbie Lancaster gave up a bases-loaded fly ball to Karli Herron that proved deep enough to push home Huie from third.
 
TSU finalized the scoring line with a three-spot in the bottom of the third. Capell was issued a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Crumpley hooked a double into the left field corner to switch spots with Huie and stretch the lead to 2-0.
 
After an error, Amanda Conner lifted Tarleton's third, three-run homer of the day to left to clear the bags and give the TexAnns a 5-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs were unable to threaten over the final four innings, failing to put a runner in scoring position for their sixth shutout of the year.
 
Lancaster dropped to 8-5 on the year. The Idabel, Okla., native gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks.
 
GAME TWO NOTES
- Midwestern State was held scoreless for the sixth time this season, all coming in LSC play
- The Mustangs drop to 16-15 overall and 7-13 in LSC play
- MSU suffered its 11-straight loss on the road, the longest in program history
- Freshman Ashley Turner collected the team's lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-3
- Senior Carli Woolsey stroked the team's third hit with a sixth inning single up the middle
- Senior Abbie Lancaster fell to 8-5 on the year, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks
 
UP NEXT
MSU Texas closes out the three-game tilt with the TexAnns tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at the TexAnn Softball Complex.