Box Score Sioux Falls, S.D. --- The fifth-seeded Minnesota State softball opened the 2010 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament with a 5-4 victory over fourth-seeded Concordia University.
The Mavericks – who pounded their 43rd, 44th and 45th home runs of the season in the victory – now play top-seeded Augustana at 4 p.m.
Minnesota State opened the game with three runs in the bottom of the first. Senior shortstop Libbie Reichling was hit by a pitch before coming around to score on a two-out double off the bat of senior catcher Kelsey Thompson.
Thompson would move to third on an illegal pitch before coming around to score on a home run to left field off the bat of Chelsea Erickson, staking the Mavericks to an early 3-0 lead.
Minnesota State added a run in the second inning as sophomore designated player Katie Kruse homered to left and another in the third as junior first baseman Natalie Spicer hit a home run, pushing MSU to a 5-0 advantage through three innings.
Concordia used the long ball to get on the board in the fourth as Sami Mattson blasted a home run to bring the Golden Bears within one at 5-4.
Sophomore pitcher Kendra Huettl went the distance to earn the win for Minnesota State, his fifth of the season. She allowed four runs – all earned – seven hits while striking out five.
Spicer led Minnesota State at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance.
The Mavericks – #24 in the nation – now own a 34-11 record.
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