SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- Sophomore Coley Ries turned in a solid performance in the circle Thursday afternoon as the Minnesota State softball team defeated Upper Iowa 3-1 on day one of the NSIC Tournament.

With the win, MSU improves to 36-21, while UIU drops to 23-29.

Ries (20-14) picked up the win as she gave up just one run on three hits, while matching her season-high of 15 strikeouts. This is the third time this season Ries has struck out 15 batters in a game. Jacqueline Flood (13-13) took the loss as she gave up three runs, two earned, in six innings.

After a scoreless first inning, the Mavericks struck in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Ashley Thell led off the inning with a single and later moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. A walk to freshman Jess Meidl would bring sophomore Samantha Buhmann to the plate who then drove Thell in with an RBI-single down the left field line.

The Mavericks added another run in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 2-0. Freshman Alyssa Rickels singled to left field and advanced to third via a fielding error. Thell then singled up the middle to score Rickels.

MSU notched its final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Buhmann blasted a home run to left field to put the Mavericks up 3-0.

Through the first five innings, Ries allowed just five base runners. The Peacocks were finally able to get a run across the plate in the top of the sixth as Flood hit a solo home run to center field to bring UIU within two of the Mavericks at 3-1. That was all the Peacocks could muster as Ries managed to get the final five outs of the game to lock down the 3-1 win.

Buhmann led the Mavericks with two hits and two RBI, while Meidl coaxed two walks.

The Mavericks will take on the winner of the game between #14 Winona State and Sioux Falls. The game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

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