Mankato, Minn.— Thirteenth-ranked Minnesota State (27-6, 7-1 NSIC) opened its home schedule with a bang as it beat MSU Moorhead 16-1 in five innings and 9-1 in five innings on Saturday at the Diamond at Gage Towers.

MSU was guided in game one by senior second baseman Amanda Umhoefer’s three-for-four and three RBI performance from the plate. Freshman infielder Brittani Robinson, sophomore catcher Lindsay Erickson and junior shortstop Abby Sonner all tallied two hits and two runs batted in during the first game of the doubleheader.

The Mavericks found itself down 1-0 after the first inning before it busted out an eight-run seven-hit second inning. Robinson and Sonner both crushed RBI doubles after sophomore infielder Kelly Wood reached on an error. MSU freshman Chelsea Riordan took advantage of the Dragons second error of the inning to reach the base paths. MSU sophomore outfielder Eryn Edgerton singled with Umhoefer and Lindsay Erickson following with RBI doubles. Senior outfielder Chelsea Erickson then crushed her sixth home run of the season to give MSU an 8-1 lead after two innings.

As if one eight-run inning wasn’t enough, Minnesota State did it against in the bottom of the fourth inning. Umhoefer hit a two-run long ball for her first home run this season before Lindsay Erickson and Chelsea Erickson crossed the dish on junior infielder Liz Doppenberg’s triple. Robinson doubled and scored as Sonner and junior infielder Sam Wadding both singled and scored on wild pitches, putting the 16-1 lead in place for the Mavericks.

MSU held the Dragons off in the fifth as senior Kendra Huettl started the game and went two innings for the Mavericks. Sophomore pitcher Kristen Fah went the final three innings to earn her third win of the season. Huettl and Fah each gave up just one hit.

In game two of the twinbill, MSU scored in every inning but the first and outhit the Dragons 11-2 in the game, earning the 9-1 win.

Upchurch, Lindsay Erickson, Robinson and Edgerton all marked two hits in game as Robinson demolished two solo home runs in the game. MSU hit four homers in the nightcap.

In the bottom of the second, Wood hit her sixth home run of the season to tie the game at one.

MSU scored three runs in the third inning as Edgerton and Upchurch singled and crossed home on Lindsay Erickson’s seventh home run of the season.

The Mavericks kept things rolling in the fourth as Robinson homered to lead off the inning. Sonner singled and scored as Edgerton and Upchurch scored on a Chelsea Erickson ground-rule double.

The MSU needed one run in the bottom of the fifth for the eight-run mercy rule. Just like she did in the fourth inning, Robinson touched all four as she stroked her seventh home run of the season over the left field fence to lead off the inning, giving MSU the 9-1, five-inning victory.

Minnesota State junior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue went the distance as she faced 19 batters and gave up just two hits in her five innings of work.

MSU continues action Sunday at the Diamond at Gage Towers for a Northern Sun Inter Conference doubleheader with Minnesota, Crookston at 1 p.m.