WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State and No. 6-ranked UT Tyler waited out a 37-minute rain delay in the first inning, but when play resumed the Patriots poured it on and defeated the Mustangs in the series opener at Mustangs Park on Friday afternoon, 26-1.
Midwestern State falls to 4-21 overall and 2-14 against LSC opponents. UT Tyler is 17-5 overall with a 9-4 conference record.
The game started despite a steady drizzle, and
Kennedy Cameron struggled in the circle. The senior issued two walks, gave up a single and hit a batter before head coach
Brittanie Talley encouraged the umpires to delay the game due to the wet conditions.
UT Tyler sent 21 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored 16 runs on seven hits against three MSU pitchers, taking advantage of nine walks and two batters hit by a pitch. The Mustangs committed their first of four errors in the first inning.
The Patriots scored seven more runs on three hits, including a Sam Schott grand slam, in the second inning as 10 batters came to the plate and four more walks were issued by MSU pitching.
Levi Luna drove in the only run of the game for Midwestern State after
Chloe Bryant worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Shannon singled for the Mustangs, advancing Bryant to third base. Luna registered her second RBI of the season with a base hit to left field.
Christin Haygood of UT Tyler retired the next three batters, and the Patriots held a 23-1 lead after two innings.
UT Tyler added two more runs in the third inning on Tara Stewart's RBI single and a throwing error. In the fourth inning, JT Smith drove home Audrey Escamilla with a double to center field to end the scoring barrage.
Courtney Plocheck, Sam Schott and Michelle Arias all had four RBIs for the Patriots, who scored their most runs ever against an NCAA Division II opponent.
UT Tyler scored the most runs in the Lone Star Conference this season and tied for the second-most runs in an NCAA Division II game this season. Coker defeated Shaw earlier this season, 26-0, and Mt. Olive defeated Virginia Wise in a game last month, 28-0.
The 26 runs is the most scored in a Lone Star Conference game since Eastern New Mexico defeated St. Edward's two years ago, 26-6.
Midwestern State allowed the most runs in program history, and 24 earned runs is the most allowed by an MSU pitching staff. The Mustangs walked a school-record 15 batters in the most lopsided loss in the history of the program.
A doubleheader was originally scheduled for Friday — but with rain returning to the area at the end of the first game — the decision was made to postpone the second game.
The series resumes with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch at Mustangs Park is slated for 1 p.m. The second game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
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--MSUMustangs.com--
