Box Score Sioux Falls, S.D. --- Minnesota State sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two runs driven in as the Mavericks forced the “If Necessary” game against Augustana with a 3-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Bowden Field on the campus of Augustana College.

Sonner’s two-run single in the bottom of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and propelled MSU to the victory.

The scoring opened in the top of the second as Augustana designated player Lindsay Spanton reached with a one-out single and moved a base when second baseman Kelsey Kalkman singled up the middle.

Spanton would then score when shortstop Brittany Coufal blooped a single to left field, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. MSU pitcher Courtney McKelvogue would strikeout rightfielder Taylor Kapsch to end the inning without any further damage.

MSU catcher Lindsay Erickson recorded MSU’s first hit when she singled past the first baseman with one out in the bottom of the second.

A groundout by freshman designated player Kelly Wood would ground out, moving Erickson to second where she was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Eryn Edgerton.

Augustana hurler Ashley Meyer would strikeout MSU centerfielder Cheslea Erickson to get out of the inning unscathed.

AC centerfielder Theresa McMahon reached on an error and advanced to second. McKelvogue would use a groundout, fly out and lineout to end the inning without any damage.

Sonner opened the bottom of the third with a single to right-centerfield before moving a base on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of junior second baseman Amanda Umhoefer.

Sonner then became the first Maverick to reach third base as she advanced on a groundout off the bat of junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch.

Sophomore leftfielder Lauryn Morris would reach on a slow-roller to the second baseman, scoring Sonner and tying the game at one.

Coufal opened the top of the fifth with a double to left-centerfield and moved to third when Kapsch reached on an error. Coufal was gunned out at home by Sonner for the second out before catcher Elizabeth Murray flew out to right to end the inning and any threat of damage for the Vikings.

Third baseman Traci Fransen opened the Augustana sixth with a leadoff walk stranded as McKelvogue used three flyballs to the outfield to close the frame.

In the bottom of the sixth, senior third baseman #Julie O’Neal# and Lindsay Erickson reached on walks to open the inning before each moving a base on a single off the bat of Wood.

Sophomore pinch runner Chelsie Krull – who entered the game for O’Neal – was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Chelsea Erickson for the inning’s first out, setting up Sonner’s heroics.

McMahon would reach on a two-out error in the top of the seventh but that was all Augustana would muster as McKelvogue picked up the win.

McKelvogue went the distance to earn the win, her 21st of the year as she scattered four hits while striking out three.