Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Kissimmee, Fla. --- The 23rd-ranked Minnesota State softball team returned home from its annual trip to the Rebel Spring games with an 18-3 record after picking up a pair of wins Saturday to close the eight-day trip.

Minnesota State opened the day with a 7-1 win over Ashland. The Mavericks hammered out nine hits in the game, including three home runs.

The scoring started in the bottom of the first inning as senior first baseman Natalie Spicer drew a two-out walk. Senior third baseman Julie O'Neal promptly followed with a two-run blast to start the Maverick attack.

The slugging continued in the third as sophomore leftfielder Lauryn Morris singled and stole second before scoring on a two-run home run off the bat of Spicer. Not to be outdone, O'Neal followed Spicer homer with one of her own pushing the Maverick lead to 5-0.

The five run lead was all that junior pitcher Kendra Huettl would need as she worked five innings and scattered four hits while striking out six to pick up the win. Freshman pitcher Kristin Fah worked the final two innings of relief.

In the nightcap, the Mavericks cored five runs in the first three innings and three more in the sixth to earn an 8-0, six inning victory over Wayne State of Michigan.

Junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch led the Mavericks at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort which included a pair of stolen bases, a pair of runs and a triple. The Maverick sister attack of junior centerfielder Chelasea Erickson and freshman designated player Lindsay Erickson went 4-for-6 from the plate with Chelsea scoring a pair of runs and driving a run in.

Sophomore Courtney McKelvogue worked five innings to earn the win, striking out three while scattering three hits. Fah worked a the sixth and picked up a pair of strikeouts.

Minnesota State (18-3) returns to action Saturday with 12 p.m., game against Winona State and a 2 p.m., tilt against Upper Iowa at the dome in Rochester. Both games are nonconference affairs.

To view the stats from the Ashland game, click HERE
To view the stats from the Wayne State (Mich.) game, click HERE