Winona, Minn.-- Eleventh-ranked Minnesota State (34-7) split with third-ranked Winona State (32-3) in its final regular season road game. The Mavericks took the first game 1-0 and dropped the second game 7-4 to the Warriors. 

MSU junior Abby Sonner was the hero again on Saturday as her fifth home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning and was the deciding factor in the first game. The Mavericks outhit the Warriors 9-3 in the game. 

Minnesota State senior pitcher Kendra Huettl threw three-hit complete game, earning her 15th win of the season as she struck out eight batters. 

Sonner, sophomore Lindsay Erickson and senior Melanie Upchurch all marked a two-hit game in the opener. 

WSU outhit MSU 12-9 in game two of the series as it lost 7-4.

In the first inning, Lindsay Erickson was hit by a pitch before she was moved to second on senior outfielder Chelsea Erickson’s single. Lindsay Erickson crossed home when the WSU shortstop made a fielding error. 

The bottom half of the first was not the start MSU was looking for. Winona State used five hits and an MSU error to make jump out to a 6-1 lead after the one inning. 

Both teams scored a run in the fourth inning. Minnesota State freshman Chelsea Riordan used an RBI single down the right field line to score freshman Brittani Robinson, who got on base by a fielder’s choice. WSU’s Sam Hildebrandt walked and then scored after two singles to move the score to 7-2.

Minnesota State made a push in the top of the fifth when it earned two runs. Upchurch scored after Lindsay Erickson singled to center that was followed by a error on the third baseman. Junior Kelly Wood singled to reel in Lindsay Erickson for her 15th RBI of the season. 

MSU couldn’t rally back in the late innings while Upchurch tallied another two-hit game with Wood and Chelsea Erickson also having a pair of hits in the game. 

MSU junior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue went one and one-third innings before Kristen Fah went the final four and two-third innings. McKelvogue gave up six hits and six runs while Fah gave up six hits and one run. 

Minnesota State hosts Concordia on Wednesday for a NSIC doubleheader at the Diamond at Gage Towers at 2 p.m.