Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BENTONVILLE, Ark. --- The Minnesota State softball team dropped its final two games of the UAM 8-State Classic Sunday to Fort Hays State (11-3) and Missouri Western State (9-4) to fall to 2-6 on the season.

The Mavericks began the day with an 11-3 loss to Fort Hays State in five innings.

Junior Brittany Lauterbach (1-3) took the loss as she gave up four runs, on eight hits in two innings of work. Kelsey Kimminau (1-1) earned the win as she gave up three runs, two earned, in five innings.

FHSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first off an RBI-double, and quickly extended its lead in the top of the second as it added three more runs, including a solo shot from Kylie Strand, to go up 4-0. Freshman Molly Renken came on in relief of Lauterbach in the top of the third, but the Tigers were able to tack on five more runs to go up 9-0.

The Mavericks got on the board in the bottom of the third as freshman Ashley Thell opened with a double and was eventually driven in by sophomore Tatum Klein.

Trailing 11-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Mavericks managed to get two runs across, but were unable to extended the game further, as they fell 11-3 in five innings.

MSU wrapped up the day with a 9-4 loss to Missouri Western State.

Freshman Coley Ries (1-1) took the loss as she surrendered eight runs, in 5.1 innings, while striking out four. Jackie Bishop (4-1) earned the win for Missouri Western State as she gave up four unearned runs through seven innings, while striking out 11 batters.

The Griffons struck first and drove in the game's first run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead. A solo home run in the bottom of the third from Tiffany Gillaspy and a two-run shot from Michelle Stevenson in the bottom of the fourth put MWSU up 4-0.

The Mavericks rallied in the top of the sixth as they drove in a total of three runs to pull within one of the Griffons at 4-3. Senior Anna Cole got the scoring going for MSU with a two-run double, while senior Kelly Wood drove in Cole with an RBI-single.

MWSU answered right back with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, including one from a passed ball. Kailey Green notched a two-run single, while Stevenson and Bre Fleschner each drove in a run with an RBI-single.

The Mavericks managed to get one run across the plate in the top of the seventh off an RBI-single from senior Samantha Holien, but that was all that they could muster as Missouri Western State held on to the 9-4 win.

MSU returns to action on Saturday, March 8, as it takes part in the Rebel Spring Games in Winterhaven, Fla., beginning with Wayne State (Mich.).

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