ST. CLOUD, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team opened the Kelly Laas NSIC/MIAA Crossover with a pair of dominant performances Thursday afternoon as they topped Nebraska-Kearney 6-1 and Central Missouri 6-0.

With the wins, MSU improves to 3-2 on the season.

Minnesota State began the day with 6-1 win over Nebraska-Kearney. Sophomore Libby Bemis (1-0) picked up the win as she struck out six batters in seven innings, while giving up just four hits and one earned run. Kami Merrill (1-2) took the loss as she gave up six runs, two earned, in six innings of work.

The Mavericks struck first in the bottom half of the second inning as junior Samantha Buhmann plated sophomore Jess Meidl to give the Mavericks an early 1-0 lead. The Mavericks added another run in the bottom of the second as senior Karli DesLauriers drove in sophomore Kara Lattery with an RBI-single.

After a scoreless third inning, the Lopers finally got on the board in the top of the fourth as Kate Ruwe homered to left field to cut the Maverick lead in half at 2-1. Bemis would keep UNK off the scoreboard through the final three innings as she gave up just three hits down the stretch.

While Bemis kept the Loper offense in check, the Maverick offense added four more runs in its final two innings at the plate to give MSU a 6-1 win. Meidl and Buhmann each drove in a run with an RBI-single in the fifth, while freshman McKenzie Paap and junior Ashley Thell both scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the sixth.

Buhmann finished with two hits and two RBI against the Lopers, while Meidl scored two runs.

MSU finished the day with a 6-0 shutout of Central Missouri. Junior Coley Ries (2-2) picked up the win as she threw seven shutout innings, while giving up just two hits and a walk, while striking out 12. She now has 598 career strikeouts at MSU. Emily Robinson (2-3) took the loss as she gave up six runs, three earned, on seven hits and four walks.

The Mavericks did most of the damage in the first two innings as they took a quick 4-0 lead. With two gone in the bottom of the first, Meidl coaxed a walk and stole second, before scoring on Buhmann's single to center field.

The bottom of the second saw Thell and freshman Cori Kennedy reach second and first on a pair of singles with one out. A single by DesLauriers and a Central Missouri throwing error plated both Thell and Kennedy to put MSU in front 3-1. The Jennies managed to get the second out of the inning, but senior Emily Bransky drove in DesLauriers to put the Mavericks up 4-1.  

After scoreless third four and fifth innings, the Mavericks were able to add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth as they claimed a 6-0 shutout victory. Lattery and Thell reached base via an error and a walk, respectively. Both eventually came around to score on a wild pitch and a throwing error.

Buhmann recorded two hits for the Mavericks for the fourth straight game, while Thell notched two hits.

The Mavericks continue play in the Kelly Laas NSIC/MIAA Crossover on Friday as they take on Missouri Western State at 5:00 p.m., and Emporia State at 7:00 p.m.

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