Mankato, Minn.— On a day where Natalie Spicer would reach the top of the charts in career runs batted in and home runs at Minnesota State, the sixteenth-ranked Mavericks beat the University of Mary 8-6 and 7-6 in Bismarck, N.D.

 

The two wins put the Mavericks at 41 wins on the season, marking the fourth time in school history a softball team has registered more than 40 wins.

 

MSU third baseman Natalie Spicer batted in three runs in game one, moving her into first in career RBI with 145, passing Kari Hudson who had 143 career RBI. Spicer’s tenth home run of the season, moves her to 29 career home runs, tying Abby Wagner’s career home run record at Minnesota State.

 

Game one action started with junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch and sophomore leftfielder had back-to-back singles in the first inning. Senior Natalie Spicer reached first on a fielder’s choice, as the Marauders took out the lead runner, Upchurch.

 

Senior third baseman Julie O'Neal single to left, loading the bases. Lindsay Erickson knocked in Morris and Spicer on a single up the middle, putting MSU up 2-0.

 

Freshman catcher Kelly Wood earned a run batted in when she hit a sacrifice fly to right field when O’Neal tagged from third on the catch, tallying MSU’s third run of the first inning.

 

In the bottom half of the opening inning, Minnesota State made an error and gave up a hit in the opening two at bats to put on Jessica Alvarado and Jenna Button.. Sophomore pitcher Courtney McKelvogue mowed the next two batters down. The Mavericks committed their second error of the inning, which led to Jessica Alvarado scoring.

 

University of Mary pitcher Ashley Watson struck out the side in the top half of the second inning

 

Spicer hit her tenth home run of the season, 29th of her career. Spicer now sits tied for first in career home runs at Minnesota State. The long ball put MSU up 4-1 moving into the bottom of the third.

 

After three hits and three errors, U-Mary tied the game up in the third, as it scored three runs. Minnesota State pitcher McKelvogue was replaced by junior pitcher Kendra Huettl with one out in the third inning. McKelvogue gave up three hits, four runs and struck out four batters.

 

The Mavericks broke the tie game in the fourth, scoring two runs. Junior centerfielder Chelsea Erickson singled to right field, before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner sacrifice bunted Erickson to third. Upchurch took first on a walk, putting runners on the corners. 

 

Morris singled to right field, earning her 22nd RBI of the season as Erickson crossed the plate. MSU loaded the bases up on a Spicer walk, before all three runners would take the next base on a passed ball.

 

U-Mary forced its way back into the game, as Calie Brown hit a game-tying, two-run in the fifth inning.

 

In the seventh inning, the O’Neal and Erickson singles couldn’t crack  the tie.

 

After a three-up, three-down bottom half of the seventh, Minnesota put two runs on the board in the eighth inning. Chelsie Krull singled to left field, as she moved around to third base on a Morris double to center field. Spicer knocked the two in on a center field single.

 

Minnesota State outhit University of Mary 14-7 in game one. Morris and O’Neal led the Mavericks offense as each hit 3-for-5 from the plate.

.

Huettl earned the 21^st win of the season, striking out eight in her five-and-two-third innings. Huettl came into the game in the third, giving up four hit and two run in the eight inning MSU win.

 

In the second game of the twinbill, Minnesota State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Morris hit a one-out single to start the game, before scooting to third on a Spicer single to center field. O’Neal hit a three-run home run, marking her fifth deep ball of the season.

 

Lindsay Erickson doubled to right center, keeping the first inning rally going. Freshman designated player Kelly Wood singled to right center, knocking in Erickson.

 

O’Neal and Lindsay Erickson and rattled off two hits in a row in the third inning. O’Neal stole third and Erickson stole second, which forced a throwing error by the catcher, to bring O’Neal home.

 

The Marauders had their best inning of the day in the bottom of the third inning. The University of Mary got two runners on before MSU got an out on a fielder’s choice play, putting runners at the corners. The Mavericks tallied their second out as Melissa Gonzalez was caught stealing. Allison Brown had a RBI single, putting runners at first and second base for U-Mary. Vanessa Baretto singled up the middle, loading the bases for Calie Brown. Brown snagged  four RBI on a grand slam to right center, generating a 6-5 U-Mary lead.

 

McKelvogue started from MSU in game two, lasting two-and-two-third innings, before being relieved by freshman pitcher Kristen Fah. Fah lasted two batters, giving up two hits when Huettl came in relief.

 

Down one run in the seventh inning, Minnesota State’s Morris, Spicer and O’Neal all singled to start the inning. Morris scored on the O’Neal hit as Spicer and O’Neal advanced to second and third base. Lindsay Erickson singled to center field, to guide Spicer across the dish.

 

MSU stranded two runners when the Marauders collected three straight outs.

 

Minnesota State headed into the bottom of the seventh with a one-run lead. With two outs and a runner on first base, Allison Brown doubled down the right field line advancing D. Smith to third. A ground out to the MSU second baseman Amanda Umhoefer would end the game, giving MSU its 41^st win of the season.

 

Huettl earned her 22^nd win of the season with a four-and-one-third inning performance. Huettl gave up three hits and struck out six. On the day, the junior pitcher had 14 strike outs in her ten innings pitched.

 

In the two games, the senior O’Neal had four RBI and was 6-for-8, while freshman Lindsay Erickson was 5-for-7 from the plate.

 

Sixteenth-Ranked Minnesota State (41-10, 18-6 NSIC) travels to Northern State Monday for its final regular season doubleheader in Aberdeen, S.D. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m.

-30-