MARSHALL, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team extended its winning streak to five games as it swept Southwest Minnesota State by the scores of 3-0 and 6-1 Wednesday afternoon.

With the wins, MSU improves to 34-18 with a 19-7 NSIC record. With the losses, SMSU drops to 25-23, including a 14-12 conference record.

MSU began the day with a 3-0 victory over the Mustangs. Sophomore Coley Ries (18-13) threw her fifth shutout of the season as she gave up just two hits while striking out 10. Erin McDurmont (6-3) took the loss as she gave up three runs on 12 hits in seven innings.

The Mavericks recorded their first run of the game in the top of the third. Freshman Alyssa Rickels got on base with a bunt single and stole second with nobody out. After a sacrifice bunt moved Rickels to third, junior Emily Bransky drove her in with a sacrifice fly center field.   

Sophomore Molly Sager added another run on the top of the fourth as she led of with a solo home run to left field to make it 2-0. MSU got the final run of the game in the top of the sixth as junior Tatum Klein drove in freshman Jordan Mauch with an RBI-single down the right field line as the Mavericks locked down the 3-0 win.

While the MSU offense recorded three runs on 12 hits, Ries kept the Mustang offense in check all game long as she left a total of four base runners stranded. Ries faced the minimum three batters in four innings.

The Mavericks finished the doubleheader with a 6-1 win to complete the sweep. Freshman Libby Bemis (16-4) earned the victory as she gave up one unearned run on four hits to go along with seven strikeouts. Alex O'Connor (17-14) took the loss as she gave up five runs, three earned, in 3.1 innings.

The second inning saw both teams plate a run to make the score 1-1. Sophomore Samantha Buhmann drove in sophomore Ashley Thell with an RBI-single in the top of the inning, before Kailey Hanson scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the inning.

MSU would take the lead for good in the top of the third as sophomore Dana Mogren belted a three run home run to put the Mavericks up 4-1. MSU would tally two more runs with RBI-singles from Rickels and freshman Jess Meidl in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.

Rickels and Thell finished the game with two hits each. Thell scored two runs, while Mogren led the team with three RBI.

The Mavericks return home on Saturday as they take on #11 Augustana on Saturday in a conference doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

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