MSU Softball extends win streak to nine, sweeps WT again

CANYON, Texas - Jessica Rodriguez connected for her first two home runs of the year to lead the Midwestern State University to a sweep over West Texas A&M Friday afternoon at Lady Buff Yard.

The Mustangs extended their winning streak to nine games and improved to 14-3 on the season with convincing 9-1 and 9-3 wins.

MSU will face Western New Mexico and Northeastern State (Okla.) on Saturday in the Holiday Inn/Lady Buff Classic at the Rich Klein Sports Complex in Amarillo on Saturday.

Rodriguez paced a Mustang offense that exploded for five home runs in the doubleheader. The freshman first baseman went 4-for-7 with two homers, while driving in three runs.

Sarah Huddleston got the homer parade started when she led off the third inning with a shot over the left-field fence. Rodriguez would lead of the fourth inning with homer to left before MSU put away Game 1 with a six-run fifth inning.

Allison Tidwell had a two-run double and Huddleston added a bases-clearing double later in the inning.

Ashley Kuchenski improved to 4-2 on the season while allowing two hits and an unearned run in five innings. She struck out four and walked one.

West Texas A&M surged into the lead after Katherine Alcala and Jenny Matulich strung consecutive run-scoring singles together in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.

But Kristen Stonecipher and Rodriguez launched back-to-back one-out home runs to left field and Amanda Hill followed Huddleston's RBI single with a two-run shot of her own as the Mustangs regained the lead, 7-3.

Brittany Willson (10-1) picked up the win, while allowing six hits and two earned runs in seven innings of work. Willson struck out nine and walked none.

Rodriguez, Huddleston, Hill and Kelli Shaw had two hits apiece in Game 2.

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