WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State sweeps Hardin-Simmons in Tuesday's double-header by eight in both games (10-2, 12-4) fueled by seven home total homers. The Mustangs rise to 4-2 in 2021, the best record since the 2019 season when they also went 4-2 in the first six.


GAME 1: MSU TEXAS 10, HARDIN-SIMMONS 2
In the first half of the double header against Hardin-Simmons, Midwestern State rose above the visitors with a big second inning, including two bombs by Carson Solis and Payton Griffin to help the 10-2 victory.

Ashley Turner was the first to score for the Mustangs in the first from a Mattye Tyler single. Turner calculated three hits off four at bats and scored three runs. Solis and Tyler both ran to home as well.

Junior outfielder Marley Eller doubled to right center for a Griffin RBI and left the first up by four.

After the home run-filled second, Turner turned around to hit a double to left center with Solis scoring. Junior Jacey Henry also got in on the fun with a sacrifice fly to push in Turner. Henry's round trip in the sixth was the last nail in the coffin for Hardin-Simmons. She was also the triumphant pitcher for MSU, giving up only five hits in four innings.

Three errors by the Cowgirls lead to points on the board for the Mustangs. Freshman Addi Hanna finished the last two innings on the mound for MSU.
 

GAME 2: MSU TEXAS 12, HARDIN-SIMMONS 4
Three bull's eyes in the first propelled the Mustangs through the series finale and to a total 12-4 slam Tuesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

Solis grabbed her second homer of the day while Turner and Bailey Brenek joined the party. After allowing just one run in the first, the Mustangs dominated 4-1 and went into a quiet second without any runs from either team.

The third was another hit storm for MSU, with Hanna Hetherington getting things started with a single up the middle to drive in Griffin and Tyler. A grounded out by Haley Butler pushed Brenek in to bring the Mustangs up by five.

Tyler's single in the fourth drove in the lone scorer, Turner, for both teams.

Hardin-Simmons two runs in the fifth were not enough to overpower the home squad as two more singles in the bottom of the inning sealed the deal for Midwestern State.

Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Turner received her third start of the season and allowed four runs in five innings on seven hits for the win.
 

UP NEXT
Midwestern State heads to Springfield, Mo. to start play in the Drury Invitational from Friday, Feb. 26, to Sunday, Feb. 28. The team will have five games in the three-day tournament starting with the University of Illinois-Springfield on Friday at 2 p.m.