THE RUNDOWN
KINGSVILLE, Texas – Texas A&M-Kingsville's pitching proved why it was one of the top staffs in the country as the third-ranked Javelinas swept Thursday's doubleheader with Midwestern State, 2-0 and 4-2. The Mustangs drop to 19-18 overall and 10-16 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
MSU was mathematically eliminated from postseason contention following the setbacks.
 
GAME ONE
The Mustangs left seven runners on-base and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as the Javelinas took the series opener, 2-0.
 
Senior Misty Muniz kept the nation's No. 3 team in check for much of the afternoon but was tagged with the loss to drop to 9-10 on the year. The Seabrook, Texas, native allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while fanning three.
 
Kingsville's Saidi Castillo picked up her 20th win to improve to 20-4 in the circle. The Javelinas ace scattered five hits and three walks while striking out 10. The LSC leader in strikeouts pitched her way out of trouble in seemingly every inning to keep MSU Texas off the scoreboard.
 
The Maroon and Gold put a runner in scoring position with one out in each of the first two frames but were unable to come up with a hit to break the game open. Castillo left senior outfielder Tucker Caraway at second in the first with a pair of strikeouts before MSU ran into an out in the top of the second.
 
Roxy Chapa lifted a solo homer to left on the 11th pitch of the at-bat to break the scoring seal in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Freshman catcher Bailey Wamsley singled up the middle to open the fifth and advanced to second on an errant throw from short. Following a sacrifice bunt that moved the Mustangs backstop to third, Castillo fanned sophomore Caycee Griffin and junior Jenna Hering was thrown out on a bunt attempt for the third out.
 
The Javelinas tacked on an unearned run in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
MSU brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the sixth and seventh but were unable to crack the scoreboard for the 13th-straight loss away from Mustangs Park.
 
GAME ONE NOTES
- Midwestern State lost its 13^th-straight on the road
- The Mustangs went 2-for-12 with runners on-base and 1-for-11 in scoring position
- Game one marked the seventh time to be held scoreless
- MSU Texas was eliminated from postseason contention with the loss
- Freshman catcher Bailey Wamsley reached safely in two of three plate appearances, going 1-for-2 with a walk
- Senior pitcher Misty Muniz struck out three while falling to 9-10 on the year
 
GAME TWO
Junior Lauren Lindgren went 2-for-3 with an RBI as MSU Texas dropped the nightcap, 4-2.
 
Kingsville's Brianna Smith improved to 12-3, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts in the circle.
 
Senior Abbie Lancaster was tagged with the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and a pair of walks.
 
The Javelinas struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth off Lancaster. Anastasia Leibas singled through the left-side of the infield to open the frame. After a walk to Chapa, Makenzie Mays poked a single down the left-field line to score both runners and give TAMUK a 2-0 edge.
 
Loren Kelly singled to start the sixth and scored from first on a double from Victoria Schoonard-Saborio to extend the lead to 3-0. After moving to third on an obstruction call, Schoonard-Saborio came home on a wild pitch to push the advantage to 4-0.
 
The Mustangs collected three-straight hits to start the sixth to cut the deficit in half. Caraway led off the inning with a single back through the box. Freshman Ashley Turner turned around a single to center to put two aboard. Lindgren gave the Maroon and Gold their first run of the day on an opposite field single down the right field line.
 
With runners on the corners, junior Kelsey Eropkin laid down a safety-squeeze bunt to get the run in from third and trim the score to 4-2.
 
MSU went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the contest.
 
GAME TWO NOTES
- MSU ended a 12-inning scoreless streak in the top of the sixth
- The Mustangs drop to 19-17 overall and 10-16 in LSC play after being swept on Thursday
- Junior Lauren Lindgren paced the Mustangs offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate
- Senior Abbie Lancaster was saddled with the loss, dropping to 9-6
 
UP NEXT
MSU closes out the series with the Javelinas on Friday at noon.