Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Rosemount, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team earned a pair of nonconference victories Thursday against Minnesota Duluth, sweeping the Bulldogs by scores of 5-3 and 4-3 (eight innings). The games were played in the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount, Minn.

In the opener, the Bulldogs raced out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a one-out, two-run home run to centerfield by first baseman Ashley Johnson.

Minnesota Duluth added another run in the bottom of the third when Johnson drew a bases loaded walk, which chased MSU junior starter Kendra Huettl from the game.

The Mavericks answered in the top of the fourth as sophomore leftfielder Lauryn Morris reached on a single to shortstop and then moved to second as senior first baseman Natalie Spicer drew a walk.

Morris came around to score as senior third baseman #Julie O’Neal# singled up the middle, moving Spicer to third.

On the ensuing at bat, UMD catcher Whitney Strantz tried to catch Spicer leading off at third, but her throw ended up in left field, allowing Spicer to score and cutting the UMD advantage to 3-2.

Minnesota State then tied the score when freshman catcher Kelly Wood reached on an infield single to second base, plating O’Neal.

The Mavericks took the lead in the top of the fifth when junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch reached on an error and took second base. A sacrifice bunt by Morris moved Upchurch to third before she scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Spicer, giving MSU a 4-3 advantage.

MSU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as freshman second baseman Chelsie Krull reached on an error and took second base. After a wild pitch moved Krull to third, she scored on a groundout off the bat of Upchurch, giving MSU a 5-3 advantage.

Sophomore Courtney McKelvogue earned the win in relief for MSU, her fourth of the year. McKelvogue worked five and a third innings of hitless ball, striking out five. She needed just 59 pitches, tossing 43 of them for strikes.

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead as shortstop Kierra Jeffers hit a two-run double to right center. After a walk loaded the bases with no outs, Huettl worked out of the jam thanks to a pair of strikeouts and a pop-foul to third base to limit the damage.

The Mavericks cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second as freshman designated player Lindsey Erickson blasted a solo homerun over the fence in left centerfield.

The Bulldogs got the run back in the top of the third as Sammie Gardner legged out a two-out single to second, scoring Johnson who had earlier walked.

Minnesota State added a run in the bottom of the fifth as junior second baseman Amanda Umhoefer lined a homerun over the left centerfield fence, cutting the lead to 3-2.

Minnesota Duluth threatened in the top of the sixth however the Mavericks avoided any damage as McKelvogue – who earlier in the inning entered in relief of Huettl – got a double-play and a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed.

In the bottom of the sixth, junior centerfielder Chelsea Erickson drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Chelsea Krull, who promptly stole second base.

Krull then took third on a passed ball and came around to score when Lindsay Erickson roped a double into rightfield.

Erickson was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Chloe Minkel, who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Wood but was stranded at third to close the inning.

After a scoreless seventh, Chelsea Erickson doubled to left field to open the bottom of the eighth.

Lindsay Erickson then ripped a double down the rightfield line to plate her older sister, and give Minnesota State the 4-3 win.

McKelvogue worked the final three innings of relief for the Mavericks, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

Minnesota State (8-1) returns to action March 5, when it opens the 2011 Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., with a 3 p.m., contest against Northwoods University.

To view the game one stats, click HERE
To view the game two stats, click HERE