Nationally ranked MSU and ACU split twinbill

WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Two nationally squads went at it in earnest Thursday night at the Sunrise Optimist Softball Complex as No. 21 Midwestern State University and No. 16 Abilene Christian University split a doubleheader in non-divisional action between the Lone Star Conference foes.

No. 16 ACU, the LSC South leader, took the first game 2-0. Then No. 21 MSU, the LSC North second place squad, claimed the second 1-0. The split featured the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division II South Central region, with MSU ranked first and ACU second.

Hits came at a premium in both games, as ACU collected 12 in the pair, while MSU tallied only nine. But the games also saw the error bug bite the Mustangs. MSU suffered five miscues, but did not allow a run because of them.

Senior Brittany Willson went the distance in both games for MSU, striking out 11. She won the second game with a three-hitter, recording seven strikeouts. But she lost the first, allowing nine hits with four Ks to settle her record at 23-6.

ACU's Jennifer Leal stymied the MSU bats in game one, allowing just two hits and striking out six to go to 20-3 on the season.

Sarah Vidalin got the loss for ACU in the second contest as MSU collected seven hits. Vidalin struck out six as well in falling to 9-8.

Willson worked out of several jams in the first game, but did not allow a run until the seventh inning.

After getting the nine hole batter to pop out to start the seventh, MSU saw three consecutive singles to load the bases. When designated hitter Nicole Deel popped out to Kelli Shaw for the second out, Willson and MSU appeared to be working from the jam.

Then ACU's Jade Wilson smashed a line drive off MSU third baseman Kristen Stonecipher for a hit that plated Allison Crouse and Claudia Stephens for the game's only runs.

MSU got two on in the bottom of the seven, but left them stranded.

In the second game, Willson saw ACU runners reach third in both the third and fourth innings, but worked her way out of both.

In the MSU fifth, the Mustangs finally got the hits together.

Sarah Wardlaw doubled to right center, followed by a shot to the fence in right center by Stonecipher. Wardlaw scored easily on the play, but Stonecipher was called out at third trying to stretch the double into a triple.

The Mustangs return to LSC North play on Saturday in Weatherford, Okla., against Southwestern State. The doubleheader starts at 2 p.m.

+++ MSU +++