Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Goodwell, Okla.—In a two-game home-opener against Midwestern State, the Panhandle State softball team totaled nine errors lending aid to the Mustangs who walked away with wins of 9-1 and 12-10.

Panhandle hitters batted well throughout the day with a team average of .403, but mistakes in the field proved costly in the end. With six errors by the Aggies in game one, the Mustangs claimed their first unearned run in the second inning and held a 2-0 lead through the top of the fifth. Panhandles starting pitcher Julia Ibarra did a great job in the circle, serving up nine strikeouts over the seven-inning stretch.

The Aggies added one run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double to right-center by Madison Heathington. Ibarra's work was dashed in the sixth as three Aggie errors brought in four runs with zero hits in the inning. Still up 6-2 going into the seventh, Midwestern brought in three runs on two more fielding errors by Panhandle State. With 11 hits in the game, including a double by Salina Galindo in the fourth, the Aggies were only able to bring in one run. MSU's pitcher Peyton Helton claimed her fifth win of the season.

Game two brought big hitting from both sides in a shootout that fell in favor of the visiting team. The Mustangs totaled 20 hits and the Aggies ended with 16, and each team made three errors in the game. Midwestern brought in two runs in the first inning, answered by one run for Panhandle on an RBI single by Darcie Wilson. An error in the second gave the Mustangs another run, but the Aggies responded with a big sixth inning; a single by Sarah Gregori started things off with six hits and six runs to follow. Brooklyne Bolton and Darcie Wilson each had RBI singles in the inning, along with Heathington and Anyssa Barbosa who brought in two runs each, hitting a single and a double respectively.

With the Aggies up 7-3 after two innings of play, freshman pitcher Emily Worley had little time to celebrate when the Mustangs put up six runs of their own in the top-half of the third. Three singles and a walked batter scored the first two runs; a fourth single loaded the bases setting up a grand slam homerun that shot the Mustangs into a 9-7 lead. Each team scored one run apiece in the fourth, but a two-run homer in the fifth edged Midwestern ahead by four. Panhandle's centerfielder Krissy Sardelich added one run for the Aggies in the fifth with an RBI single, and another runner scored in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Heathington.

Although Worley and the Aggie defense kept the Mustangs quiet in the sixth, Ibarra came in to close out the seventh. Two hits and a walk filled the bases, but strong play by the Aggie defense left all three runners on base. Panhandle left two runners stranded in the seventh giving Worley her fourth loss of the season. The Mustangs went through two pitchers in the game; sisters Kelsey and Erin Knox split duty with Erin receiving the win in the final four innings of play.

Heathington had a great day at the plate averaging .800 in hitting and 1.000 in slugging percentage over the two-game series; the senior went 4-5 and totaled four RBI. Galindo also hit well with a .625 batting average and six total bases on the day.

Panhandle State softball now sits 9-13 on the season as they enter Heartland Conference play this weekend. The Aggies will take on Oklahoma Christian on the road March 10-11. Friday's doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. with game three on Saturday starting at Noon. The team will return home for a doubleheader matchup with an old conference opponent, UT-Permian Basin on Tuesday, March 14; first pitch is 2 p.m.