Mavericks Advance to NSIC Championship - Minnesota State University

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Mavericks Advance to NSIC Championship

5/7/2011 1:13:36 PM

Box Score

Sioux Falls, S.D. — The Minnesota State Mavericks beat the Wayne State Wildcats 6-2, advancing MSU to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament championship.

In its fifth game of the NSIC tournament, Minnesota State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Natalie Spicer hit a fly ball to left field and WSC leftfielder Dani Sandel dropped it, advancing Spicer to second base.

With two outs, Minnesota State senior third baseman Julie O'Neal hammered a ball off top bar of the fence for a ground rule double. Spicer scored on the play for her 46th run of the season.

Junior pitcher Kendra Huettl started in the circle for the Mavericks as she stood perfect through three innings, striking out five batters.

The Wildcats tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth inning. Huettl walked Wayne State catcher Samantha Earleywine. Designated player Hannah Engelkamp put a ball through the middle infield that knotted the game at one as Earleywine crossed the plate.

MSU outfielders Melanie Upchurch and Lauryn Morris generated base hits in the fifth inning, which landed the two on first and second base. In the next at bat, Minnesota State first baseman Natalie Spicer turned on an inside pitch, driving the ball to left field for her 12th double of the season as Upchurch scored.

With two runners in scoring position, O’Neal drove a ball to center field, scoring Morris, moving Spicer to third and advancing O’Neal to second on the throw at the plate.

In the same situation as O’Neal, Minnesota State freshman designated player Lindsay Erickson came up with one out and runners on second and third base. Erickson hit a deep sacrifice fly to left field, bringing Spicer across the plate as MSU expanded its lead to 4-1.

Wayne State Kassie Nurton led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single up the middle. After MSU converted the following two outs, Samantha Earleywine doubled to right center as Nurton scored.

Huettl pitched her way through five-and-a-third innings, giving up two runs on three hits in her 26th win of the season.

Sophomore Lauryn Morris burnt the centerfielder to start the seventh inning, marking her fifth triple of the season. Morris increased the MSU lead to 5-2 as she scored her 44th run of the season on a wild pitch.

The Mavericks kept the rally going when O’Neal walked and Lindsay Erickson singled to right field. With two outs and a full count, Chelsea Erickson drove O’Neal home on a line drive to left field.

The Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases up with one out. MSU pitcher Courtney McKelvogue was able to convert the final two outs of the game on a pop-out and a strikeout.

Minnesota State’s Upchurch, Morris, O’Neal and Lindsay Erickson all recorded two hits in the game.

Courtney McKelvogue came in relief earning the save on her one-and-one-third innings pitched. McKelvogue struck out three batters in her performance.

The Mavericks outhit the Wildcats 12-3 in the game.

Minnesota State (47-11) continues action right now against Augustana College at Bowden Field. The Mavericks must win twice against the Vikings to claim the NSIC tournament championship.

For live stats of the championship click HERE

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