Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team split a doubleheader with the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State Friday, winning the first game 6-1, while dropping the second 11-7.

The Mavericks fired off the first runs in the bottom of the second.  Sophomore Chelsea Erickson hit a single to center field followed by three walks which brought Erickson in for the first run of the game. With the bases loaded freshman Lauryn Morris singled to center field bringing in two runs to close out the inning.

Minnesota State tallied two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 5-0. Senior Kelsey Thompson doubled to left center to drive in both runs.

In the top of the sixth the Mustangs brought in their lone run of the game off a single through the right side as junior Natalie Spicer doubled to left center followed by a single to left center from Thompson bringing Spicer.

Sophomore pitcher Kendra Huettl improved her record to 8-2. Huettl allowed one run off of seven hits, while striking out four in the first game.

In the second game, bottom of the second, Minnesota State would score first as Erickson hit her fourth homerun of the season.

After a seven-minute rain delay, Southwest Minnesota State would counter back in the top of the third with two runs, to go up 2-1on the Mavericks. The Mustangs offensen exploded in the top of the fourth, scoring six runs, off of six hits.

Trying to come back in the bottom of the fourth from a seven-run deficit, Minnesota State brought in two more runs. Freshman Liz Doppenberg doubled up the middle, bringing one runner in, followed by a single from sophomore Amanda Umhoefer which would bring Doppenberg and cutting the lead to 8-3.

The top of the sixth brought three more runs for the Mustangs giving them an eight-run lead on the Mavericks.

To keep the game from ending Minnesota State rallied four runs in the bottom of the sixth leaving them with a four-run deficit, which wouldn’t be enough for the Mavericks to overcome.

Freshman Courtney McKelvogue dropped her record to 7-3 on the season with the loss. McKelvogue allowed five runs off of nine hits, while striking out five.

The Mavericks (15-5) host St. Cloud State for a doubleheader Wednesday first pitch slated for 2 p.m.