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Game 1 Stats | Game 2 Stats

Pueblo, Colo. --- The Minnesota State softball team dropped a pair of games to open the 2012 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference/Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Crossover Challenge in scenic Pueblo, Colo. 

In the opener, MSU fell behind 4-0 through four and a half innings and never rebounded, falling to Adams State, 6-3. 

After falling behind 4-0, the Mavericks answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth as redshirt freshman Christina Redd scored on an unearned run after senior centerfielder Chelsea Erickson reached on an error.

Adams State answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth before MSU closed out the scoring with two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Redd drove in senior second baseman Amanda Umhoefer on a sacrifice fly and junior leftfielder Lauryn Morris doubled scoring junior first baseman Liz Doppenberg.

Morris was the lone Maverick with a multi-hit game as she collected two hits in her two trips to the plate.  Senior pitcher Kendra Huettl worked five innings in the loss, allowing seven hits and six runs – all earned – while striking out eight.  Redshirt freshman Brittany Lauterbach worked two innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit and registering her first career strikeout.

In the nightcap, Colorado Mesa earned a 3-2 victory over Minnesota State.  CMU lead 1-0 through the first four and a half innings until MSU answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Morris reached on a fielder’s choice and then came around to score when sophomore first baseman Kelly Wood blasted a two-run homer to leftfield.  Colorado Mesa answered with a pair of runs in the top half sixth and held on for the win.

Wood led the Mavericks at the plate with three hits in four at bats, driving in both of MSU’s runs.

Junior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue took the loss as she went 5.2 innings, scattering five hits and allowing three runs, one of which was earned.  Huettl worked the final 1.1 innings and struckout two. 

Minnesota State (0-2) returns to action Saturday as it faces Colorado State Pueblo at 10 a.m. (MST) and UC Colorado Springs at Noon (MST).  The contest against CSU Peublo will be available via livestats at the following address: http://www.csupueblothunderwolves.com/softball/xlive.htm