WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Ashley Turner and
Payton Griffin clubbed two home runs each to lead Midwestern State in a doubleheader split with Texas A&M International in Lone Star Conference play Saturday night Mustangs Park.
Midwestern State claimed a 10-7 lead in Game 1, while the Dustdevils rallied to take the nightcap, 7-5.
The Mustangs moved to 8-35 on the season and 7-21 in league play and reaming three games behind St. Edward's (9-17) for 10th place in the LSC standings to earn the final postseason berth. The Hilltoppers have doubleheaders remaining against Lubbock Christian and St. Mary's, while MSU closes the regular season Saturday against Texas Woman's.
The Mustangs would also have to navigate their way past Texas A&M International (9-19) and Eastern New Mexico (8-18).
Midwestern State took control of Game 1 with a five-run fifth inning keyed by Griffin's first blast of the day -- a two-run shot to give the Mustangs a 6-3 lead.
Paige Bryant tacked on an RBI single to left field to score
Mikey Dominguez before Turner lined a single to center field to plate two more as MSU pushed out to a 9-3 lead.
Sophomore
Hanna Hetherington staked the Mustangs to an early lead with a two-run double in the first inning before Turner launched her eighth homer of the season -- a two-run shot in the second inning to give the Mustangs a 4-2 lead.
MSU's
Kennedy Cameron earned the win in the circle to improve to 6-12 on the season. The sophomore from Longview allowed two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in six innings.
Freshman
Maci Sanders recorded a season-high three hits for the Mustangs, while Turner finished the opener 3-for-5 with four RBIs.
Texas A&M International scored three runs in the second, two in the third and two more in the fifth inning on the way to a 7-5 win in Game 2.
Kristin Maldonado laced a double down the left-field line to plate the Dustdevils first run of the game in the second inning, then Melanie Gamboa delivered a two-run double to the left-field gap to give TAMIU a 3-1 lead.
Heather Ruiz and Briana Arredondo homered on back-to-back pitches in the third inning, the Arredondo added a two-run double in the fourth to push the Dustdevils' advantage to 7-2.
Turner blasted her ninth home run of the season over the left-field fence in the first inning, then Dominguez delivered an RBI single to center field in the third.
The Mustangs chipped away with two runs in the fourth inning scoring off of an effort before Turner drove in another on a sacrifice fly to pull within 7-4.
Griffin launched her second homer of the day to lead off the fifth inning, but the Mustangs wouldn't get any closer.
TAMIU's Carla Arellano earned the win in the circle to improve to 2-6 on the season. She allowed five runs -- all earned -- on eight hits.
Junior
Natalie Castillo took the loss for the Mustangs while making her first start of the season. Sophomore
Addi Hanna delivered 4 2/3 innings of solid relief allowing two runs on three hits.
Turner and
Bailey Brenek had two hits each to lead MSU's eight-hit attack.
Midwestern State closes the regular season with a Lone Star Conference doubleheader against Texas Woman's Saturday afternoon at Mustangs Park. First pitches are set for 1 and 3 p.m. The Mustangs celebrate Senior Day festivities following the conclusion of the twin bill.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
