Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kissimmee, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team split a pair of games Friday at the Rebel Spring Games, as it upended Ferris State, 7-3 (8), before falling to Shippensburg, 5-4.

In the opener, the Mavericks and Bulldogs found themselves tied at three after seven innings.

Minnesota State would then use a four-run top of the eighth inning to secure the win.

Using the international tiebreaker, senior first baseman Natalie Spicer was placed at second to start the eighth. Senior first baseman Julie O'Neal would walk before O'Neal moved to third on a wild pitch. Junior centerfielder Chelsea Erickson would reach on an error to load the bases. Chelsea's younger sister, Lindsay Erickson then singled to right field plating Spicer and breaking the tie.

After a strikeout, sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner blasted a bases-clearing double to right center, to conclude the scoring for Minnesota State.

Lindsay Erickson led the Mavericks at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort to go with a pair of RBI while Sonner went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Junior pitcher Kendra Huettl earned the win as she went the distance, allowing six hits and three runs –all earned –while striking out eight.

In the nightcap, the Mavericks rallied to take a 3-2 lead after four innings only to have it slip away in the loss.

Trailing 2-0 after two, MSU picked up a run in the bottom of the third as sophomore leftfielder Lauryn Morris singled through the left side, driving in junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch who had hit a two-out triple to right.

MSU added two more runs in the fourth as freshman catcher Kelly Wood doubled to right center, driving in sophomore pinch runner Eryn Edgerton and Lindsay Erickson.

Shippensburg answered with three runs in the top of the fifth to stake a 5-3 lead before MSU answered with sacrifice fly off the bat of Wood, plating sophomore pinch runner, Chloe Minkel. MSU threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Upchurch lead off with a single and was sacrificed to second before being stranded to end the inning.

Wood led the Mavericks at the plate with a 1-for-2 effort with three RBI while Upchurch went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore pitcher Courtney McKelvogue took the loss as she scattered six hits while allowing five runs – two of which were earned – while striking out nine.

Minnesota State (16-3) plays Ashland at 11 a.m. (EST) and Wayne State (Mich.) at 3 p.m., to close out the Rebel Spring Games tomorrow.

To view the stats from the Ferris State game, click HERE

To view the stats from the Shippensburg game, click HERE