SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- The Minnesota State softball team scored six runs in each of its wins Tuesday as it defeated the Sioux Falls Cougars 6-4 in game one before completing the sweep with a 6-3 win to wrap up the doubleheader.

With the wins, MSU improves to 19-13 on the season, including a 4-2 record in NSIC play. With the losses, USF falls to 16-10, including a 2-4 league record.

The Mavericks began the day with a 6-4 win over the Cougars in game one. Freshman Libby Bemis picked up the win (9-2) as she gave up four runs, three earned, in 5.2 innings. Bemis also posted 10 strikeouts. Freshman Katie Koponen earned the save as she got the final four outs to secure the win for the Mavericks. Alyson Netty (9-5) took the loss as she gave up six runs, five earned in the complete game effort.

The first five innings saw the Mavericks dominate the action as they built a 6-0 lead. Bemis gave up just two hits and a walk in the first five innings, while MSU tallied seven hits.

MSU jumped out in front right away in the top of the first as junior Emily Bransky scored on a passed ball, before sophomore Samantha Buhmann drove in freshman Jess Meidl with a single to make it 2-0 in favor of the Mavericks. MSU added another run in the top of the third as sophomore Ashley Thell drove in Meidl on a ground out.

The Mavericks added three more runs in the top of the fourth to make it 6-0. Freshman Kelly Grove got scored the first run of the inning on an error, before junior Tatum Kleinscored on a wild pitch. Meidl drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-0.

After being held scoreless through the first five innings, the Cougars finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as they tallied four runs, on six hits and one fielding error. USF saw three runs come via RBI-singles, and one off a Mavericks fielding error.

Koponen came on in relief of Bemis with two gone in the bottom of the sixth and managed to keep the Cougars in check the rest of the way to secure the 6-4 win for the Mavericks.

Both Klein and Meidl finished the day with two hits each, with Meidl scoring two runs and driving one in as well.

The Mavericks finished the day with a 6-3 win which saw sophomore Coley Ries improve to 10-10 on the season. Ries finished the game with eight strikeouts as she allowed just two runs, on three hits, in six innings of work. Koponen picked up her second save of the game as she gave up one unearned run in one in the bottom of the seventh. Breanna Black (6-5) was saddled with the loss as she gave up six runs in seven innings.

After a pair of scoreless innings to open the game, MSU jumped out in front with two runs in the top of the third. Meidl drove in the first run of the game with a walk, before Black hit freshman Kara Lattery with a pitch to bring in the second run of the innings.

The top of the third saw the Mavericks drive in three more runs to make in 5-0 in favor of MSU. With two gone, Bransky notched an RBI-single through the right side, before Meidl tallied a two-run single through the right side as well.

Ries carried a no hitter into the bottom of the sixth, but the Cougars were able to string together a couple of hits, including a two-run shot by Danielle Walker to pull within three of the Mavericks at 5-2.

Latter got a run back for the Mavericks in top of the seventh as she belted a solo shot to left center for her fourth home run of the season. USF managed to get one run off a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh but that was all it could muster as the Mavericks completed the sweep with a 6-3 win.

Meidl finished game two with three runs batted in, while Lattery drove in two. Klein and Bransky each tallied a couple of hits as well.

The Mavericks open their home schedule on Wednesday as they host Concordia-St. Paul at the MSU Softball Diamond. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 2 p.m., with the second game scheduled to follow at 4 p.m.

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