Sixteenth-Ranked Mavericks Split with Huskies

4/29/2011 7:48:41 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

St. Cloud, Minn. --- The 16th-ranked Minnesota State softball team played to a split Friday afternoon against archrival, St. Cloud State. The Mavericks dropped the opener, 7-6, before winning 3-1 in game two.

In the opener, the Mavericks jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch reached on a leadoff walk and moved to second when sophomore leftfielder Lauryn Morris drew a second consecutive free pass.

Senior first baseman Natalie Spicer moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt before Upchurch came around to score on a groundout off the bat of senior third baseman #Julie O’Neal#.

St. Cloud State tallied four runs in the bottom of the third as third baseman Chris Saiz highlighted the inning with a three-run home run to left field.

The Huskies added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach as first baseman Ally Koski singled to center driving in both runs.

The Mavericks rallied to tie the game in top of the sixth as they sent nine batters to the plate, pounding out four hits.

Freshman designated player Lindsay Erickson opened the inning with a one-out single before being replaced by sophomore pinch runner Chelsie Krull. Freshman catcher Kelly Wood drew a walk before both baserunners came around to score when junior centerfielder Chelsea Erickson homered down the left field line, cutting the score to 6-4.

The homerun chased Husky starting pitcher Brit Krieg as Jackie Manrique entered in relief.

Manrique would give up a single to sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner before retiring sophomore pitcher Courtney McKelvogue – who entered the game in relief of junior starting pitcher Kendra Huettl – via the strikeout.

Sonner wouldn’t be stranded on the base paths however as Upchurch – who started her collegiate softball career with St. Cloud State – blasted a two-run homerun, her second of the season, tying the game at six.

The game wouldn’t stay tied for long however as the second baseman Casey Hiers hit a one-out single to centerfield before moving to third on a single off the bat of shortstop Kelly Olson. Hiers then scored when centerfielder Jackie Dooley hit a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Huskies the go-ahead run.

Sophomore pitcher Courtney McKelvogue worked two-and-a-third innings of work in taking the loss, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.

In game two of the doubleheader, Freshman Kelly Wood led the second inning off with a single. Wood got around to third from a throwing error by the Huskies on a Sonner grounder, Sonner took first base. Upchurch tagged her fourth triple of the year, bringing in Wood and Sonner. Upchurch crossed the plate on a passed ball, giving MSU a 3-0 advantage.

SCSU responded in the bottom of the second inning, when it was credited with two walks and a hit as Chris Saiz was walked in, to bring the score to 3-1.

McKelvogue started the game from the circle for the Mavericks, going one-and-two-third innings. Freshman pitcher Kristen Fah came into relief in the second inning.

Both teams were unable to mark the runs column past the second inning.

Fah gave up zero runs and struck out six in her five-inning performance, earning her third win of the season. Huettl completed the final out of the game, retrieving her second save of the season.

The Mavericks outhit the Huskies 6-4 in game two, earning the 3-1 win. MSU left on ten runners on base, while the Huskies left eight on.

Upchurch was 2-for-4 from the plate, knocking in two runs on her second inning triple. Chelsea Erickson batted 2-for-3 in the Minnesota State victory.

The Mavericks (39-10, 16-6 NSIC) return to action Saturday when they travel to Fargo, N.D., to take on the University of Mary with first pitch undetermined at this point. MSU concludes the regular season portion of its schedule Sunday against Northern State at Noon.

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