ST. CLOUD, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team won its final two games of the NSIC/MIAA Crossover as it defeated both Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney.
The Mavericks got their first win of the day over Fort Hays State in five innings by the score of 9-1.
Sophomore pitcher Coley Ries (3-4) picked up the win for the Mavericks, as she threw three shutout innings after posting six strikeouts and giving up just one hit. Freshman pitcher Libby Bemis closed out the rest of the game, after throwing two innings, with two strikeouts and one earned run. Junior pitcher Paxton Duran (1-3) took the loss for Fort Hays State after giving up four earned runs off of six hits and three walks.
The Mavericks got the scoring going right away as they poured in four runs in the top of the first. Freshman Jess Meidl began the scoring for MSU, as she nailed an RBI-triple that brought junior Tatum Klein in from second. Soon after that, Meidl would cross home after a passed ball and then sophomore Ashley Thell would score after a throwing error by Fort Hays. Finally, before the inning ended, senior Chelsea Riordan would hit into a fielder's choice, which scored sophomore Samantha Buhmann from second.
In the next inning Buhmann would add to her stat sheet, as she belted a three run double to right center, which all scored Thell, Meidl and Tatum. The Mavericks led 7-0 over the Tigers after two.
In the third inning MSU scored its final two runs of the game after Klein reached base on an error by a FHSU player which scored juniors Emily Bransky and Abby Whritenhour. After three innings, the Mavericks were leading 9-0 over the Tigers.
FHSU would finally score its lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Veronica Knittig singled home Kylie Strand, to make the score 9-1.
Klein finished the game with two hits and two runs, while Meidl and Thell each posted two runs, one hit and one walk in the win. Â
MSU finished the day with a 14-9 win against Nebraska-Kearney.
Through four innings both teams were knotted up at 7-7.
Nebraska-Kearney took a 1-0 lead after the first inning, before plating four runs in the top of the second to take a 5-0 lead. UNK drove in its four runs in the top of the second using three hits, including a two-run single by Kate Ruwe.
MSU would answer right back in the bottom of the second as it drove in five runs to knot up he score at 5-5. Freshman Jordan Mauch got the scoring going with an RBI-double, before junior Karli DesLauriers drove in MSU's second run with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Mandi Mauch and Klein each scored on a wild pitch, before Meidl tied up the game when she stole home. Â
MSU took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the third off an RBI-double from sophomore Molly Sager, but UNK would answer right back in the top of the fourth as Cassie Roessing put the Lopers back in front 7-6 with a two-run single. Buhmann would later drive in Meidl in the bottom of the fourth to knot up the score at 7-7.
Nebraska-Kearney managed to retake the lead at 8-7 in the top of the sixth, but MSU would rally for seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the inning to go up 14-8. Sager tied the game up with an RBI-single before Mandi Mauch put the Mavericks ahead for good at 10-8 with a two-run double. The Lopers managed to get one more run in the top of the seventh but they could get no closer as MSU locked down the 14-9 win.
Bemis (1-0) picked up the win for the Mavericks as she threw 1.1 innings. Meg Housholder (0-4) took the loss.
The Mavericks return to action on Saturday, March 7, as they take on Lock Haven at the College Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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