Kissimmee, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team opened its annual spring trip to the Rebel Spring Games with an offensive explosion as the Mavericks downed Shippensburg, 15-0, and Georgian Court, 6-1, Saturday.  MSU will play 12 games in the next seven days during its stay in the Sunshine State.

In the opener, the Maverick pounded out eight hits and took advantage of for Shippensburg errors en route to the victory.  Minnesota State scored four runs in the first inning, three in the third and closed the scoring with an eight-run fourth frame.

Junior first baseman Natalie Spicer went 1-for-1 from the plate, smashing a homerun and coaxing three walks.  Sophomore leftfielder Chelsea Erickson went 2-for-2 from the plate, hitting her third home run, while driving in two runs and scoring two of her own.  Redshirt freshman Liz Doppenberg hit her first career homerun as she went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Redshirt freshman Courtney McKelvogue went the distance to earn the abbreviated five-inning win.  McKelvogue scattered two hits while striking out five.

In the second game of the day, freshman centerfielder Lauren Morris went 3-for-5 from the plate and scored two runs to pace the Mavericks.   Minnesota State pounded out 13 hits in the victory, including five extra base hits. 

The game was scoreless through four innings before Morris reached on a one-out single in the top of the fifth.  After a sacrifice bunt moved Morris to second, she came around to score when junior third baseman Julie O’Neal doubled.  O’Neal finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of doubles.

Freshman Erin Edgerton entered to run for O’Neal and scored when senior shortstop Libbie Reichling blasted a homerun. 

The Mavericks would add two more runs in the top of the sixth and another in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Sophomore Kendra Huettl went the distance to earn the win, her third of the season. She scattered two hits while issuing five walks and striking out two. 

Minnesota State (5-1) continues action Sunday as it plays Stonehill at 1 p.m., and Northwoods at 3 p.m.

Game one stats can be found HERE

Game two stats can be found HERE