Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State softball team improved its winning streak to eight games Sunday afternoon as the Mavericks earned a 14-5 and 12-2 victory over MSU Moorhead.

In the opening inning of game one, the Dragons tallied two runs off one hit, leaving three on.

Minnesota State’s senior catcher Kelsey Thompson brought two runs in at the bottom of the first as she hit a double to center field.

The Dragons tallied one more run in the top of the third, before the Mavericks brought five runners in at the bottom of the third. Sophomore leftfielder Chelsea Erickson brought one run in off a double to center field. A single by junior third baseman Julie O'Neal brought another run in, before sophomore rightfielder Amanda Umhoefer drilled a home run to right center, her third of the season, bringing three runners in.

 MSU Moorhead tallied a home run to left field in the top of the fourth bringing two more runs in.

The Mavericks answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and five more in the bottom of the fifth to close-out the victory after five innings.

Minnesota State tallied 14 runs off 14 hits with two errors, while the Dragons posted only five runs off five hits with no errors.

Erickson paced the Mavericks at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort with three runs batted in while Thompson and O’Neal went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Sophomore pitcher Kendra Huettl earned the victory improving her record to 14-6, allowing only five runs off five hits while striking out four.

In game two, Minnesota State jumped to a 12-1 lead through four innings and held on for a 12-2 victory.

Thompson drilled a home run to left field in the bottom of the first bringing three runners in. Senior shortstop Libbie Reichling hit her first career triple in the bottom of the second to right field bringing three more runs in for the Mavericks.

In the top of the third MSU Moorhead tallied their first run off three hits.

Minnesota State tallied three runs in the bottom of the third and one more in the bottom of the fourth. Thompson hit her second home run of the game to left field, seventh on the season, bringing three runners in. Huettl hit a single to left center in the bottom of the fourth bringing one run in.

In the top of the fifth inning the Dragons brought one runner in off a home run to centerfield.

Thompson went 2-for-3 at the plate with six runs batted in while Reichling went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in.

Redshirt freshman pitcher Courtney McKelvogue earned the victory working four innings and improving her record to 13-3. McKelvogue allowed only one run off four hits while striking out five.

Freshman Jenna Peterson pitched the final inning allowing one run off one hit while striking out one.

The Mavericks (27-9, 13-5 NSIC) host Minnesota, Crookston Monday at 2 p.m., at the diamond at Gage Towers.

To view the stats from Game 1, click HERE

To view the stats from Game 2, click HERE