Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Wichita Falls, Texas – The Panhandle State Aggie softball team fought hard against Midwestern State University on Wednesday afternoon. The Aggies came up short with scores of 2-0 and 8-4 over the double header.
 
Pitcher Julia Ibarra started in the circle for Panhandle in game one, and took her first loss of the season on four hits and two earned runs.  The Aggies played a very defensive game but struggled to score, totaling just two hits over the seven-inning contest. Bottom of the first inning the Aggies allowed a run to MSU with a double to left field from pitcher Erin Knox. The Mustangs scored their second run in the sixth on a walk and two singles.

Madison Heathington had the first hit for the Aggies with a single on one out in the second; she was left on base when a double play closed out the inning. In the top of the third Ibarra hit a single to first, followed up by Faith Guzman who reached base as a hit batter; the two runners were left on base with a fly ball and a pop up.

The Aggies left six runners stranded through the remaining four innings, earning five bases on balls and two through fielder's choice plays. Solid fielding by Panhandle helped in holding MSU to two runs; the Aggies committed zero errors in the field but just could not get the bats going against a tough Midwestern team.

In game two, the Aggies got off to a slow start, but built up throughout the game with strong bats and good defense. With a pop-up and grounded balls the Aggies would only allow MSU to score one run through the fifth inning. In the second inning, Madison Heathington had a great single to center field and, Sarah Gregori, with a good eye, walked to base, allowing Heathington to advance. A good bunt by Anjunessia Husband followed by a fielder's choice, brought Heathington home for the Aggies' first run of the game.

The third inning was big for the Aggies. The scores rolled in when Brooklyn Bolton started the Aggies off with a single over right field. Darcie Wilson then homered to left field and, with two RBI's, Bolton scores. The Aggies continue with Krissy Saredlich hitting a single to third base and Gregori getting an RBI triple to right-center, sending Sardelich home. Karah Ortiz took one for the team, hit by the pitch of MSU's Erin Knox. With another good bunt from Husband, Ortiz was moved to second but unable to score, keeping the Aggies in the lead at 4-1.

Panhandle put up a good fight but struggled through the sixth inning, unable to finish the game as strongly as they had started. MSU managed to score seven runs in the sixth, giving starting pitcher Emily Worley her first loss of the season. Worley went for 5.2 innings with 11 hits and zero earned runs. Ibarra came in and faced three batters before Criselda Luna came in to close out the inning; Luna's first batter was put out on a fly ball.

The Aggies will continue road play this week in the North Texas Softball Bash Feb. 10-12 in Grand Prairie, Texas. They will play two games each day with live stats are available for select games; the link is located online at opsuaggies.com on the Softball schedule page.