FAYETTE, Iowa --- Six runs proved the difference in both games Wednesday afternoon as the Minnesota State softball team fell to Upper Iowa in game one 10-4, before the Mavericks broke even with a 6-0 shutout victory in game two.

The Mavericks now own a 25-15 overall record, including a 10-4 NSIC record, while the Peacocks finished the day with a 12-21 record, with a 7-5 league record.

MSU began the day with a 10-4 loss to the Peacocks. Jacqueline Flood (6-8) earned the victory in relief as she threw four innings, while giving up just three hits. Sophomore Coley Ries (12-12) took the loss as she gave up 10 runs, on 10 hits, in 5.2 innings.

It was all MSU early on as the Mavericks carried a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third. Junior Emily Bransky tripled in MSU's first run of the game in the first inning, before sophomore Dana Mogren drove in Bransky with a ground out to make it 2-0. Two innings later, Mogren notched a two-run shot to left field to make it 4-0.

The Peacocks responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, including a two-run single from Flood. UIU then took the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Katie Sammons notched a two-run homer run to make it 5-4 in favor of the Peacocks.

In the bottom of the sixth the Peacocks rallied for five runs on five hits to make it 10-4. Erica Kirgan drove in two of UIU's runs with an RBI-single up the middle.

MSU would draw even with the Peacocks in game two as the Mavericks raced to a 6-0 victory behind a shutout from freshman Libby Bemis. Bemis, who improved to 13-2 on the season, posted her fourth shutout of the season as she struck out four batters, while giving up just three hits in seven complete innings. Flood (6-9) took the loss as she gave up one run in 4.2 innings.

Both teams had their share of base runners early on, but the scoreboard remained empty through the first four innings. Bransky got the scoring going in the top of the fifth as she drove in junior Tatum Klein with an RBI-triple to give MSU a 1-0 lead.

The Mavericks would add to their lead in the top of the sixth as they plated four runs. Sophomore Molly Sager opened the inning with a solo home run to make it 2-0, before Klein drove in sophomore Ashley Thell with a single through the right side. RBI-singles from Bransky and Mogren increased MSU's lead to 5-0 before the end of the inning.

Freshman Jordan Mauch added MSU's last run of the game with a sacrifice fly that plated Sager to make in 6-0.

Bransky finished the game with three hits and two RBI, while Sager and Klein each scored two runs.

The Mavericks return home Friday for a six game homestand as they host Northern State in a conference doubleheader. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
                                                                    -30-