Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases to lead the Mavericks to a 6-2 victory over Winona State in the NCAA Central Region-2 Championship game.

With the win, Minnesota State (51-13) advances to next weekend’s SuperRegional against Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. The two-team best-of-three event starts Friday.

The Mavericks threatened in the bottom of the first as junior Upchurch reached on a bunt single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of sophomore leftfielder Lauryn Morris.

A wild pitch moved Upchurch to third where she was stranded after Winona State starter Courtney Strang got a groundball double-play to get out of the inning without any damage.

Sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner opened the bottom of the fifth with a single to left before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt of the bat of second baseman Amanda Umhoefer.

Upchurch then reached on an infield single before stealing second. Morris would single up the middle to score Sonner and stake the Mavericks to a 1-0 lead.

Morris would steal second before coming across to score with Upchurch when senior first baseman Natalie Spicer doubled to right-centerfield.

The hit parade continued for the Mavericks as senior third baseman #Julie O’Neal hit a bloop single to shallow right field putting runners at the corners for freshman designated player Lindsay Erickson#.

Erickson would line into a double-play to end the inning and the scoring threat for Minnesota State.

Winona State cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as Katie Betry reached on an error scoring designated player Kim Wacholder who had earlier walked.

With runners at the corners following the error, Maverick starter Courtney McKelvogue would strike out pinch hitter Samantha Hildebrandt and leftfielder Brooke Piotrowski before getting a fly ball off the bat of Dallas Schmacker to end the inning with minimal damage.

Upchurch opened the bottom of the fifth with an infield single to the shortstop before moving to second when Spicer singled to left.

After O’Neal singled to center, Lindsay Erickson singled off the wall in centerfield, plating Upchurch and extending the Maverick lead to 4-1.

Freshman catcher Kelly Wood drew a bases loaded walk, plating Spicer and pushing the Maverick advantage to 5-1.

The scoring in the fifth closed when O’Neal scored on wild pitch as MSU pushed a 6-1 lead.

Winona State added a run in the top of the seventh when Molly Link reached on an infield single scoring Kaitlin Hardie. Mollie Bjelland would single to load the bases with two outs in the seventh before McKelvogue would get Crudo to flyout to end the game.

McKelvogue went the distance to earn the win, improving to 20-6 on the season. She allowed two runs – one earned – on eight hits while striking out six.

To view the game stats, click HERE

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