Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Minnesota State (33-8, 10-4 NSIC) took two victories this afternoon against Upper Iowa University, prevailing 9-4 and 2-1. Kendra Huettl picked up two victories, with senior Natalie Spicer earning a walk-off homer in the eighth inning of game two of the doubleheader.
In game one, the Mavericks scored all nine of its runs in the first two innings. With two outs in the first inning, the Mavericks rattled off four runs. Natalie Spicer and Julie O'Neal picked up back-to-back singles before Chelsea Erickson reached on an error, scoring Spicer and O’Neal.
Lindsay Erickson crushed her fourth home run of the season, scoring her sister Chelsea Erickson and putting MSU up 4-0.
While the Peacocks picked up one run in the top of the second, Minnesota State continued to use its offensive weapons to add five more runs in the bottom half of the second.
Abby Sonner led off with a single and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Umhoefer. Melanie Upchurch got her lone hit of the game, moving Sonner to third. Spicer was hit by a pitch after Lauryn Morris hit a long sacrifice fly to score Sonner. O’Neal singled, scoring Upchurch. Chelsea Erickson connected on her seventh double of the season, knocking in O’Neal and Spicer. Lindsay Erickson would tally her second hit of the game on a roper to right field, helping Chelsea Erickson cross home plate putting the Mavericks up 9-1 after two innings.
UIU would tally three more runs in the game. Minnesota State would enter 19 different players in the contest, totaling for nine hits in the teams 25 at bats.
Huettl pitched three innings, giving up one hit, striking out five batters. Freshman Kristen Fah pitched the final four innings, giving up three hits and three runs in her five strikeout performance.
MSU became victorious in game two of the doubleheader, with both runs coming off home runs.
The game would remain scoreless until Upper Iowa’s Erica Bennek went deep in the fourth inning in its second hit of the game.
The Mavericks were slow to get on the board before Lindsay Erickson smashed her second home run of the day in the bottom of the seventh inning, knotting the game at 1-1. Kelly Wood hit a double to centerfield, but was unable to score for Minnesota State.
Lindsay Erickson finished the day 3-for-6 with six runs batted in.
After shutting down the Peacocks in the eighth inning, Spicer connected with her team-leading eighth home run, giving MSU its 33rd victory of the season. Spicer was 3-for-3 on the day, crossing the dish three times.
Huettl went all eight innings in the game, giving up just four hits and striking out 12 batters. Huettl improves to 16-4 on the season, giving up just one run in her 11 innings pitched on the day.
Minnesota State (33-8, 10-4 NSIC) continues action tomorrow in its final regular season home series at the Diamond at Gage Towers. The Mavericks will host Winona State in a doubleheader Monday, with the first pitch etched for 1 p.m.
MSU Senior Natalie Spicer:
