Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team pushed its winning-streak to 20-straight games downing Upper Iowa by scores of 11-3 in five innings in game one, before completing the sweep with a 6-0 win in game two.
 
With the wins, MSU improves to 30-6 overall and 14-0 in NSIC action, while the Peacocks fall to 11-19 overall and 4-6 on the circuit. Head coach Lori Meyer now sits just three wins away from 1,000 career wins.
 
The Mavericks started the day with an 11-3 win over UIU in five innings.
 
Senior Samantha Holien got things rolling in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff home run, to jump start the Mavericks offense. MSU scored four runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning as seniors Lindsay Erickson, Kelly Wood and Anna Cole all made their way across the dish.
 
In the bottom of the second inning, Holien once again got things started with a leadoff double before Wood hit her fourth home run of the season pushing the Maverick lead to 6-0 after two complete innings.
 
The Peacocks found their way onto the scoreboard in the third inning, scoring one run on two hits, cutting the Mavericks' lead to 6-1.
 
MSU added three runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning as Holien scored her third run of the game. Sophomores Karli DesLauriers and Tatum Klein each added runs, pushing the Mavericks lead to 9-1 heading into the fourth inning.
 
UIU scored two runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning to avoid the eight-run loss, continuing the game into the bottom of the fifth inning, but MSU added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game. Klein started the inning with a triple and later scored off an RBI single from Holien making it 10-3. Wood finished off the game with a sac fly, with Holien scoring the game's winning run, earning MSU the 11-3 victory.
 
Holien led the MSU offense, scoring four runs on four hits, including two doubles and a home run with three RBI. Wood collected two hits, including a home run and three RBI. DesLauriers added two hits and two RBI.
 
Freshman Coley Ries improved to 14-2 overall, giving up three runs on five hits but fanned five Peacock batters.
 
In game two, the Mavericks once again got off to a hot start, this time it was freshman Ashley Thell recording the home run, her second of her collegiate career scoring Erickson and Cole giving MSU a 3-0 lead after the first inning of play.
 
The Peacocks found themselves within striking distance but were unable to capitalize recording two hits, but leaving two stranded in the top half of the fourth inning.
 
MSU added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning behind a leadoff triple from Erickson, followed by a double by Wood, scoring Erickson. Wood and freshman Dana Mogren also scored in the inning, pushing the Mavericks' lead to 6-0.
 
UIU was unable to solve junior pitcher Brittany Lauterbach in the seventh inning, as she improved to 14-4 overall. Lauterbach allowed six hits but earned her sixth shutout of the season.
 
Erickson had the heavy stick in the second game of the day, she scored two runs on two hits in three at bats. Thell finished with one run on two hits with three RBI.
 
The Mavericks return to action Sunday as they host Minot State with the start time still to be determined.