WICHITA FALLS, Texas (April 13, 2017) - Texas Woman's University held a 4-0 lead over Midwestern State Thursday night at Mustangs Park, but MSU put up a pair of runs in the fourth inning and three more in the bottom of the sixth to take the win over the Pioneers in game one of the series.
 
Abby Walker tallied three of her season-high 10 strikeouts in the bottom of the first by retiring three Mustangs to the dugout by way of swinging. Tylia Sylestine registered the first hit on the evening for the Pioneers with a single up the middle, and Tori Bice followed with a shot through the left side. A single by Walker to the pitcher loaded the bases for Morgan Harrison who sent a single to left field to advance the runners and earn the first score of the game.
 
Walker notched another single in the top of the fourth before pinch runner Nicole Parnell stepped in and immediately stole second. Harrison's second single pushed Parnell to third, and a RBI by Tara Solomon put the Pioneers up 2-0. Katy Stephens sailed a single down the left field line to bring in Harrison, and a double by Hazel Puempel to right center allowed Stephens to run in to up the TWU lead to 4-0.
 
The Mustangs cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth with a home run to left center to trail 4-2.
 
The Pioneers pieced together some offense to begin the sixth with a single by Solomon before Nordie reached on an MSU error. A sacrifice bunt by Stephens placed Solomon on third and Nordie on second. A line out was caught for the second out before Sylestine was intentionally walked to fill the bases, but a third out ended any TWU scoring opportunities.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Pioneers gathered a pair of outs on the first two batters, but the Mustangs put runners on first and second via walks. The next MSU batter placed a double to right center to bring around both Mustangs and tie the score at 4-4. A single up the middle scored another to give MSU a 5-4 advantage.
 
TWU was unable to garner any more offense with their final opportunity in the top of the seventh as the team as the team recorded three straight outs.
 
Walker (13-7) took the loss with three hits and three walks along with matching her season-high of 10 strikeouts.
 
The Pioneers and Mustangs faceoff tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. inside Mustangs Park.