Kissimmee, Fla.  --- The Minnesota State softball team played to a split Saturday as it lost to Wayne State (Mich.), 9-0, before bouncing back to defeat Lynn, 7-1 to close the 2010 Rebel Spring Games.

The Mavericks – who had been idle the last two days because of rain – now stand 10-4 on the season and played to a 7-3 record in Florida.

In the opener, Wayne State scored seven runs in the first inning to open the game up an never look back.  The Warriors chased MSU starting pitcher Kendra Huettl after just 1.1 innings as Huettl allowed nine runs – all earned – while scattering eight hits.  Junior third baseman Julie O'Neal and senior catcher Kelsey Thompson were the only Mavericks with hits in the loss.

Redshirt freshman hurler Courtney McKelvogue went the distance to earn the win in the nightcap as she scattered five hits while issuing six strikeouts. 

The Mavericks opened the bottom of the first with a single off the bat senior second baseman Abby Morris.  An illegal pitch moved Abby to second and a sacrifice bunt pushed her to third.  Morris then scored on the second illegal pitch of the inning, staking MSU to an early 1-0 advantage.

Senior shortstop Libbie Reichling started second inning with a solo homerun.  Sophomore rightfielder Amanda Umhoefer then reached on a one-out single and moved to third on a double off the bat of Abby Morris.

Freshman centerfielder Lauryn Morris then reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases for junior first baseman Natalie Spicer.

Spicer hit a comebacker to the pitcher, plating Umhoefer and staking the Mavericks to the 3-0 edge.

Lynn answered with a run in the top of the third before the Mavericks’ then answered with three more runs in the bottom of the frame.  Umhoefer highlighted the inning with a two-run homerun.

Minnesota State closed the scoring with two more runs in the fourth.                    

Abby Morris and O’Neal each had two hits for the Mavericks in the win. Reichling and Umhoefer each drove in two runs.