Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Orlando, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team opened the Rebel Spring Games on a high note as it won both of its contests Saturday, as the Mavericks defeated Ferris State (2-0) and Caldwell College (7-6).

With the wins, MSU improved to 8-4 on the season and extended its winning streak to seven games.

The first game of the day featured a close pitcher’s duel that saw MSU’s Courtney McKelvogue and Ferris State’s Dana Bowler go the distance with the Mavericks coming out on top 2-0. 

McKelvogue (3-3) earned the win as she completed her first shutout of the season as she fanned nine batters, while giving up just four hits and a walk. Bowler (0-1) took the loss as she gave up two runs in seven innings, while posting 11 strikeouts.

After a pair of scoreless innings to open the game, senior Lauryn Morris and freshman Tatum Klein reach second and third with nobody out. Junior Lindsay Erickson stepped up to the plate and drove in both runners with a single to center field.

Ferris State was able to get runners on base in three of the final four innings, but each time McKelvogue was able to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard as the Mavericks secured the 2-0 win.

MSU finished the day with an offensive battle as the Mavericks overcame a three-run deficit to defeat the Caldwell Cougars 7-6.

The Mavericks got the scoring going in the top of the first as junior Samantha Holien drove in senior Lauryn Morris with an RBI-single to give the Mavericks the 1-0 lead.

The Cougars mounted a quick response in the bottom of the second as they loaded the bases for Sara Zambelli, who knocked a grand slam over the left field fence to give Caldwell a 4-1 lead.

Holien tallied her second RBI-single of the game in the top of the third, before the Mavericks combined for five runs on five hits in the top of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead. Junior Kelly Wood led off the fourth with a solo-shot to make it 4-3, before freshman Tatum Klein knotted up the score at four with an RBI-single to center field.  Erickson capped off the five-run inning with a three-run shot to center field to give MSU the 7-4 lead.

Caldwell attempted to put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally fell short as the Cougars managed to get just two runs as the Mavericks held on for the 7-6 victory.

Sophomore Brittany Lauterbach (1-0) earned her first win of the season in relief of freshman Coley Ries. In four innings of work, Lauterbach allowed just two runs, on six hits, with one strikeout.  Amber Padilla (1-1) took the loss, as she gave up seven runs in 3.2 innings pitched. Hanna Walkinshaw threw the final 3.1 innings for the Cougars, giving up just two hits.

MSU continues play in the Rebel Springs Games Sunday as it takes on Tiffin at 10 a.m., and Adelphi at 12 p.m.
                                                                                          
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