Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BENTONVILLE, Ark. --- The Minnesota State softball team opened its 2014 season with a split Friday, as it fell to Emporia State 8-6, before topping Pittsburg State 6-4.

Freshman Coley Ries (1-0) earned her first win of the season in the Mavericks second contest of the day as she threw four innings, while giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits while striking out three batters. Junior Brittany Lauterbach came on in relief for the Mavericks and earned her first save of the season as she threw three shutout innings to lock down the win. Haleigh Silles took the loss as she surrendered six runs in 4.1 innings pitched. She also walked two batters, as the Mavericks scattered 11 hits.

Pittsburg State struck first in the bottom of the first as it managed to get an unearned run across the plate. MSU responded in the top of the third as senior Kelly Wood drove in  the Mavericks first run of the game to knot up the score at 1-1.

The Gorillas answered in the bottom of the third with a home run to go up 2-1, but MSU would rally in the top of the fourth as it tallied four runs on four hits. Sophomore Laura Milligan got the scoring going with a two-run double, while senior Samantha Holien and Lindsay Erickson each drove in an additional run.

MSU added another run in the fifth as Milligan drove in her third run of the contest with an RBI-single. PSU managed to get two runs across in the bottom of the fifth, but Lauterbach would keep them in check as she got the final nine outs for the Mavericks to secure the win.

MSU began its day with an 8-6 loss to Emporia State.

Lauterbach (0-1) took the loss as she gave up eight runs, six earned, through seven innings. Kaitlyn Caston (3-0) won the game in relief for Emporia State as she allowed one run on three hits, in three innings of work.

The Hornets opened the top of the third with the games first run, only to see the Mavericks answer right back with four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Holien accounted for two of MSU's RBI in the inning with an RBI single, with senior Anna Cole and Wood following with an RBI-double and RBI-single, respectively.

Both teams exchanged a run in the fourth inning as MSU led 5-2, but ESU would drive in five runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead for good. Hannah Weingartner accounted for three of ESU's five fifth inning runs with a three run homer. Wood managed to plate one run in the bottom of the seventh, but that was all MSU was able to muster in the seventh as it took the 8-6 loss.

Minnesota State continues play in the UAM 8-State Classic Saturday as it takes on East Central (11:30 a.m.) and Arkansas Tech (3:30 p.m.).
 
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