Game 1 Box Score  ::  Game 2 Box Score

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Mary Kate McKay and Claire Molina each had complete-game performances on Saturday to help the Angelo State softball team earn a pair of victories against Lone Star Conference rival Midwestern State during First Community Federal Credit Union Military Appreciation Weekend.

Although the No. 2 Rambelles (24-3, 8-0 LSC) had just two hits in Game 1, they certainly made the most of it. Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Belles were able to draw a pair of walks before Lauren Smith lined a three-run homer over the left-field wall at the ASU Softball Complex. The junior unloaded her fifth homer of the season which gave ASU a 3-1 advantage.
 
“We were having a difficult time adjusting to her speed for most of the game,” Angelo State head coach Travis Scott said. “Lauren did a great job keeping her weight back and driving the ball, which was a big-time hit for us.”
 
With a two-run cushion, McKay would do the rest, as the sophomore threw 7.0 innings, scattering seven hits and forcing 13 groundouts. The Madill, Okla., native improved to 11-1 on the season, while MSU's Brenna Hennan took the loss, falling to 1-6.
 
“Mary Kate continues to keep the ball down and force a lot of easy groundouts for us,” Scott said. “She pitched a good game for us to start, and then Claire followed it up with another great outing. Our pitchers did great, but our defense was also solid.”
 
Molina controlled the circle in Game 2, as she pitched a complete-game shutout against the Mustangs (12-15, 2-6 LSC). The senior struck out seven and allowed just two hits in 7.0 innings of work. With the win, Molina (13-2) now has 13 on the year which leads the conference.
 
After two scoreless innings, Carly Peters led off the third with a solo homer off the scoreboard. Chelsey Walters then legged out a double and would eventually score on an Amanda Wilhelm RBI-single.
 
Leading 2-0, the Rambelles stretched their lead to 5-0 after scoring three runs on two hits in the fifth. With two runs already in, Coach Scott had April Breshears lay down a suicide squeeze, which scored Luz'Ce Baca from third for the final run of the contest.
 
The two teams return to the ASU Softball Complex at 1 p.m. on Sunday for the final game of the series.