WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Kennedy Cameron made her second start of the series for Midwestern State and allowed just one earned run on four hits through seven innings, but St. Mary's pulled out a 2-0 victory and completed a three-game sweep at Mustangs Park on Sunday afternoon.
Sydney Shimkus led off the game for MSU with a hard-hit ball off the glove of third baseman Lauryn Ramos.
Allie Monroe doubled off the right-center field fence, but St. Mary's pitcher Catalina Cavazos worked through the jam and was never really threatened the rest of the way. Cavazos threw her second complete game of the series, allowing just three hits while recording three strikeouts and walking three Mustangs.
Cavazos improved to 13-7 with her seventh shutout of the season and threw her 17th complete game of the campaign.
Cavazos was spotted a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Destiny Salinas drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Gonzales. Salinas advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double steal. Reba Reyes drew a throw to second after reaching on a walk, and Salinas raced to the plate to score the first run of the game.
The Rattlers held a 1-0 lead until they added an insurance run in the seventh inning, when Ericka Gomez drew a lead-off walk and scored following a bunt single from Ramos and a Mackenzie Dugi ground out.
Cameron threw her second complete game of the season and the 15th of her career. The junior from Longview, Texas, recorded six strikeouts and allowed just one extra-base hit. Despite her strong performance, Cameron fell to 3-9 for the season.
Payton Griffin, who has played primarily at first base for Midwestern State, came through with some exceptional defense in left field. The fifth-year senior had four putouts and an assist without an error. Griffin gunned down Raegan Tennil at the plate in the second inning after Dugi flied out.
Monroe finished the game 2 for 3 for the Mustangs, who are 8-37 overall with a 7-29 record in the Lone Star Conference. St. Mary's improves to 29-20 with a 19-17 record in the LSC.
Midwestern State travels to Silver City, New Mexico, for a three-game series with Western New Mexico. The doubleheader Friday begins at 1 p.m. central time, and the series concludes on Saturday with a noon start.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
