Clermont, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team split a pair of softball games on Day 3 at the College Spring Games. The Mavericks defeated Maryville University 8-3, before falling just short to Hillsdale College in nine innings, 7-6.

In game one, MSU defeated Maryville 8-3, as freshman pitcher Libby Bemis (3-0) picked up her third win of the year. Bemis gave up just four hits and one earned run, while throwing six innings of work and striking out six Saints batters. Junior pitcher Katie Koponen closed out the game for the Mavericks as she pitched in the seventh.

MU struck first in the bottom half of the first as they pushed across one run, before the Mavericks  tallied three runs of their own in the second inning. Junior Tatum Klein got the scoring going as she notched a RBI single, which scored freshman Kara Lattery. Next batter up was freshman Jess Meidl, and she ripped a two RBI triple, that scored junior Laura Milligan and Klein across the plate.

The Saints answered back with another run in the bottom of the third, before MSU had another response with posting two more runs in the top half of the fourth inning. Milligan tallied a RBI single, that led to freshman Kelly Grove crossing the plate. Later in the inning, Klein reached the bases after a fielder's choice, which led to junior Emily Bransky pushing one more run across the plate.

For the next three innings, the Mavericks posted three more total runs in the game. Starting in the fifth, Milligan would strike again as she recorded a RBI triple that scored sophomore Dana Mogren. In the sixth, sophomore Samantha Buhmann posted a RBI single that pushed Meidl across the plate. Finally in the seventh, Milligan added more to her stat sheet, as she tallied a sac fly to center field that scored Mogren from third.

The Saints would score one more run in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough as MSU went on to a 8-3 victory over Maryville.

Milligan finished the game 3-3 from the plate and posted three RBI and one run scored, while Meidl recorded three hits of her own, along with two RBI and one run scored. Buhmann and Klein also added two hits and a RBI a piece in the win.

In the second game of the day, the Mavericks fell short to Hillsdale in nine innings, 7-6.

Sophomore pitcher Coley Ries (5-6) took the loss for MSU, as she pitched all nine innings and gave nine hits and six earned runs, while striking out 15 Chargers batters. 

MSU built an early lead in the game with a 4-1 lead over HC after two innings. In the first inning, sophomore Ashley Thell got the scoring going as she posted a sac fly to right field, that led to Meidl crossing the plate. In the second, Lattery hit her first career home-run as a Maverick,  as she belted a three-run homer that also scored Mogren and freshman Alyssa Rickels .

However, the Chargers battled their way back into the game as Hillsdale scored six unanswered runs to take a 7-4 lead over MSU.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mogren belted a RBI double that led Bransky to cross the plate. Later in the inning, freshman Jordan Mauch reach base safely after a throwing error by a Chargers player, which led Mogren to cross the plate. However, the Mavericks comeback came up just short as they were unable to tie the game up, with the final score being 7-6. 

Klein posted two hits, two stolen bases and one walk in the loss, while Mogren added two runs, one hit, one RBI and one walk.

The Mavericks will continue their stay in Florida. as they will take on American International on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 8 a.m.