THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State ended the 2019 season on a high-note, defeating Eastern New Mexico 7-2 in Saturday's finale at Mustangs Park. MSU finished the season 22-19 overall and 13-17 in Lone Star Conference play, including a 17-2 record at home.
 
Senior Misty Muniz went 3-for-3 with three RBI and a double while earning the win in the circle. The Seabrook, Texas native allowed one unearned run on one hit and one walk while striking out six in four innings of work.
 
Senior Abbie Lancaster earned her eighth career save, giving up one run on three hits over the final three frames.
 
Carli Woolsey (2B, 2 R, 2 RBI), Tucker Caraway (Run) and Jenna Hering (RBI) had a strong showing for the senior class at the plate in their final collegiate competition.
 
The Mustangs broke the game open with a four-spot in the bottom of the third. Caraway was hit by Hanna Gary's 1-2 offering to lead off the inning and freshman Ashley Turner legged out a bunt single to put two aboard. The duo stole second and third to move into scoring position when junior Lauren Lindgren dribbled a single back up the middle to break the scoring seal. Woolsey smoked a two-run double off the wall in left to push the lead to 3-0.
 
After a sacrifice bunt from junior Kelsey Eropkin and a walk to freshman Bailey Wamsley, Muniz lined a single to left to plate Woolsey from third.
 
The Greyhounds tagged Muniz for a run to cut into the lead in the top half of the fourth. Kimberly Herron was hit by a 1-2 pitch with one out to reach base when a fielder's choice and a passed ball left Emma Gary at second. Hanna Gary followed with a RBI double to left on a deep fly ball to break up the shutout.
 
ENMU grabbed one more run in the fifth to trim the score to 4-2. Iliana Mendoza welcomed Lancaster into the game with a high chopper that bounced directly off the plate for a single. A sacrifice bunt put Mendoza in scoring position. Kayla Marshall hooked a double into the right-center alley, but was cut down at third on an outstanding relay throw from sophomore Caycee Griffin at short.
 
The Maroon and Gold got the run back in the bottom of the fifth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from Hering thanks to a pair of walks by Herron in the circle.
 
With the bases juiced in the bottom of the sixth, Muniz put the game on ice with a two-run double to left that dropped in front of a sliding Marshall.
 
Lancaster worked quickly in what would go down as her final frame. She got Moreno and Lauren Likes to groundout to short on a combined three pitches. She closed out the season inducing a groundout by Smith.
 
GAME NOTES
- Midwestern State finished the season above .500 for the first time since the 2016 season, posting a 22-16 record
- The 22 wins are the most under Mark Ryal
- The Mustangs finished seventh in the Lone Star Conference with a 13-17 record
- MSU Texas ends the season with a win for the first time since the 2015 season
- The Mustangs move to 17-2 at home, winning all seven series at Mustangs Park
- The MSU Texas senior class recorded the win, save, three runs and five RBI
- Senior Misty Muniz went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI while getting the win in the circle
- The Seabrook, Texas, native improved to 11-11 on the season after allowing one unearned run on one hit with a walk and six strikeouts
- Senior Abbie Lancaster collected her eighth career save to move into sole possession of second on the all-time list
- The Idabel, Okla., native gave up a run on three hits over the final 3.0 frames