Mankato, Minn.---  The Minnesota State softball team split with Wayne State College in its final regular season doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the MSU Softball Diamond. In game one, the Mavericks defeated the Wildcats in five innings, 9-0, before falling to WSC in game two, 4-1.

In game one, MSU struck early and often as it scored all nine of its runs through the first three innings of the game. Sophomore Coley Ries (19-14) earned the shutout win for MSU, as she pitched all five innings, while giving up just three hits and struck out five batters. Sara Scheffert (7-7) took the loss for WSC, as she pitched in two innings and gave up seven earned runs, five hits and two walks.

Junior Tatum Klein got things going quickly for MSU as she began with a leadoff triple down the left field line, that led to a RBI single to right field from junior Emily Bransky. Later in the inning, sophomore Ashley Thell brought home Bransky from third after a fielder's choice. After the first inning of play, MSU led 2-0 over the Wildcats.

In the second, the Mavericks exploded for five more runs after posting three hits and two walks in the inning. Freshman Alyssa Rickels started with a fielder's choice to second to bring home freshman Jess Meidl from third. Next batter up, Klein beat out a throw from the shortstop for a RBI infield single that brought home junior Karli DesLauriers from third. Soon after, Klein would score from third after a wild pitch from WSC. Thell capped off the inning with a two RBI single to right field that led to Bransky and sophomore Dana Mogren crossing the plate. After two innings, MSU led 5-0 over WSC.

In the third, Minnesota State added two more insurance runs, as freshman Jordan Mauch brought home Meidl after a fielder's choice. Sophomore Samantha Buhmann scored MSU's final run of the game after a RBI single to left center from Klein once again.

Ries closed the door on the Wildcats in the fourth and fifth innings, to give the Mavericks the 9-0 win in five innings.

Klein finished the game 3-3 from the plate with two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base, while Bransky recorded two hits, two runs, one walk and a stolen base in the win.

In game two, Wayne State got some revenge on Minnesota State as it defeated MSU, 4-1. 

Kelcie Bormann (18-8) picked up the win for the Wildcats as she pitched in all seven innings, while giving up seven hits and posting eight strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Libby Bemis took the loss for the Mavericks as she pitched in 2.1 innings of work, while giving up two earned runs and four hits. Ries came in relief of Bemis in the third and finished out the game and tallied four strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work.

WSC scored it first run in the second inning when Sam O'Brien hit a solo shot to center field. In the next inning, the Wildcats scored its final three runs when they loaded the bases and were able to post two hits and two walks in the inning.

MSU finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Molly Sager crushed a solo home run to center field, to close the gap on WSC's lead, 4-1.

However, that was the only run the Mavericks pushed across the plate in the game as Bormann and the rest of the Wildcats held strong for the 4-1 victory over MSU.

Sager ended the game with two hits, while Meidl recorded a hit and stolen base in the loss.

The Mavericks finish regular season play with a 35-21 overall record and a 20-10 record in NSIC play.

Next up for the Mavericks will be the NSIC conference tournament in Sioux Falls, starting on Thursday. MSU's opponent and game time is TBA. Stay tuned for more details later this week.