Box Score Sioux Falls, S.D.— Fourteenth-ranked Minnesota State (53-14) beat seventh-ranked Augustana (50-11) twice Sunday to advance to the NCAA Division II Softball Finals in Salem, Va.
Minnesota State opened the day by beating the Vikings 3-1 and then rallied to win the “If Necessary” game, 5-4.
The trip to the NCAA Finals marks the second in school history. The last time MSU made the trip was in 1987, when it took third place.
Augustana jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning after Jenny Brown reached on an error on an error. After a single put runners on the corners, Augustana freshman Lindsay Spanton hammered a home run off the top bar of the fence in straight-away center field to put the Vikings up 3-0.
Augustana carried the lead into the fifth when Minnesota State sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner singled up the middle to start the inning. Sonner then advanced to second on a Melanie Upchurchground ball to the right side of the infield and then scored as the Viking first baseman made an error on a Lauryn Morris groundball, shrink the score to 3-1.
Entering their final at bat, MSU scored three runs to jump on top 4-3 in the top of the seventh.
Junior second baseman Amanda Umhoefer singled down the third base line on the first pitch to start the seventh.
Upchurch singled up the middle to put to runner’s on first and second base before Morris laid a sacrifice bunt down the third baseline to advance the runner’s a base.
Senior first baseman Natalie Spicer doubled on a ball right inside the third baseline, tying the game at three as Umhoefer and Upchurch scored.
MSU sophomore Eryn Edgerton pinch ran for Spicer and would later cross the plate on a Lindsay Erickson single to right field, putting the Mavericks up 4-3.
Augustana clawed its way back into the game in the bottom of the seventh as Elizabeth Murray hit a one-out double down the left field. Clean up hitter Tracy Fransen flied out to right for the second out before Spanton walked to put runner’s on first and second base. Kelsey Kalkman hit a screamer down the third base line that bounced off senior third baseman Julie O’Neal’s glove and would score Murray from second. With runners on the corners and two outs, Sonner completed a routine groundball to finish the inning.
Minnesota State regained the lead as Umhoefer turned on a pitch and went yard for her sixth home run of the season in the top of the eighth.
Minnesota State sophomore pitcher Courtney Mckelvogue pitched seven innings for her 22nd win of the season, striking out four batters. All four of the Vikings runs were unearned as McKelvogue gave up seven hits in her performance.
Junior pitcher Kendra Huettl earned her third save of the season as she pitched the eighth inning to close out the 5-4 MSU win.
Ashley Meyer pitched eight innings for Augustana as she gave up ten hits and five runs.
MSU catcher Lindsay Erickson went 3-for-4 in the game and Umhoefer went 2-for-4 with two runs in the win.
Minnesota State (53-14) will face Saginaw Valley – the winner of the Midwest Region – in the first round Thursday.
The entire eight-team championship tournament bracket is expected to be announced Sunday.
Sights and Sounds from Saturday's second win over Augustana
