Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Mankato, Minn. --- The eighth-ranked Minnesota State softball team played to a split Sunday afternoon against the University of Mary, defeating the Marauders 8-0 in five-inning in the opener before dropping a 1-0 decision in the night-cap.

The loss snapped MSU’s seven-game winning streak and was the Mavericks’  first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference loss at home in 15 games, a streak which dates back to last year.

In the opener, the Mavericks staked an early 2-0 lead as senior rightfielder #Melanie Upchurch# led off the bottom of the first with a single to rightfield.  Upchurch then moved to second when sophomore catcher Lindsay Erickson was hit by a pitch and later came around to score when senior centerfielder #Chelsea Erickson# doubled off the top of the centerfield fence. 

Sophomore first baseman Kelly Wood plated Lindsay Erickson with a sacrifice fly to rightfield to conclude the Maverick scoring for the inning.

Upchurch led off the bottom of the third with her second sharp single of the game to rightfield before promptly stealing second.  She then moved to third when leftfielder Lauryn Morris reached on an error.  Morris and Upchurch then executed a double-steal, plating Upchurch and moving Morris all the way to third as MSU extended its lead to 3-0.

Chelsea Erickson would reach on an error and Wood followed by reaching on a fielder’s choice before freshman third baseman #Brittani Robinson# coaxed a bases loaded walk, plating Morris and giving MSU a 4-0 lead.

Freshman designated player #Chelsea Riordan# reached on an error – the third of the inning for U-Mary, which cleared the bases, pushing MSU’s lead to 7-0 as Minnesota State batted around in the inning.

Lindsay Erickson’s tenth home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning provided the game’s eighth and final run. 

Senior Kendra Huettl went the abbreviated distance for the win, scattering four hits while striking out five.

In the nightcap, U-Mary snapped MSU’s streak of 50 innings without yielding a run as they scored a run in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead and never look back. 

The Marauders’ starting pitcher Emily Sinclair took full advantage of the run as she promptly retired 12 of the next 13 Mavericks following the run – including 12 in a row – before sophomore pinch-hitter Eryn Edgerton doubled to left-center to start the sixth. 

Senior second baseman Amanda Umhoefer sacrificed Edgerton to third.  Morris and Lindsay Erickson each drew walks – Morris’ coming on a ten-pitch at bat after falling behind 0-2 to start the at-bat, but all three were stranded as Sinclair got Chelsea Erickson to ground out to shortstop to end the inning.

The Mavericks then went in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

Junior starter Courtney McKelvogue took the loss for MSU as she scattered seven hits while striking out six.  Sinclair went the distance for the win, allowing just two hits.

Minnesota State (41-8, 21-3 NSIC) returns to action Monday afternoon as it hosts Northern State in its regular-season finale.  First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

Chelsea Erickson talks about the split