BISMARCK, N.D. --- The Minnesota State softball team earned a split on the road as it fell to the University of Mary 2-1 in game one before defeating the Marauders 9-3 in game two.
MSU now owns a 30-18 overall record, including a 15-7 NSIC record. With the split, U-Mary owns a 20-27 overall record, including a 9-12 record in league action.
Game one featured a tight pitchers' duel as both teams combined to score three runs on 13 hits in U-Mary's 2-1 victory. Nena Dudley (16-13) picked up the win as she allowed just one on five hits, in the complete game effort. Freshman
Libby Bemis (14-4) took the loss as she gave up two runs on eight hits, while striking out five.
The first two innings saw both pitchers keep the opposing offense in check as a total of five base runners were left stranded. The top of the third saw the Mavericks get the game's first run across the plate to take a 1-0 lead. Junior
Tatum Klein led off the inning with a single and eventually moved to second on a wild pitch. After a walk put two runners on base, sophomore
Dana Mogren drove in Klein with a single to center field.
The Mavericks held a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth, but a solo shot from Taylor Mendez to right center would knot up the score at 1-1. The Marauders would then take the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Kristin Ormsby doubled in Erin Keen to put U-Mary in front 2-1.
The final two innings saw just one Maverick reach base via an error as Dudley locked down the win for the Marauders. Mogren finished the game with two hits and MSU's only RBI.
The Mavericks managed to draw even with the Marauders with a 9-3 victory in game two. Sophomore
Coley Ries (16-13) earned the win as she allowed just two runs on four hits in six innings while striking out seven. Junior
Katie Koponen allowed on unearned run in one inning in relief. MeLanie Rodriguez took the loss as she gave up seven runs in two innings of work.
MSU did not waste any time as it scored five runs in the top of the first. Mogren got the scoring going with a single through the left side, before freshman
Jess Meidl blasted a three-run shot to center to put MSU up 4-0. A solo shot from sophomore Mandi Mauch would make it 5-0 before the Marauders could get out of the inning.
Mendez would tally a solo shot in the bottom of the first, only to see Mogren answer right back in the top of the second with a two-run shot to make it 7-1. MSU would see two more runs cross the plate as freshman
Alyssa Rickels drove in Meidl with an RBI-single in the sixth, before sophomore
Ashley Thell doubled in junior
Emily Bransky in the top of the seventh.
Klein, Meidl and Mogren each finished the game with two hits, with Meidl and Mogren each driving in three runs.
The Mavericks continue their road trip on Sunday as they take on the Minot State Beavers in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
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