Clermont, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team extended its winning streak to seven on Monday at the Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. MSU not only shutout one team, but two teams on Monday, as it took down Lees-McRae, 8-0, in six innings and Northwood, 4-0. The Mavericks pitching staff combined to allow only two hits and recorded 21 strikeouts on Monday.

Sophomore pitcher Libby Bemis [4-1] started for the Mavericks in game one against Lees-McRae. Bemis struck out four Bobcats players and only allowed one hit in five innings pitched.

Megan Paradise [0-2] started for LMC and took the loss against MSU after pitching in one inning. In the game, the Mavericks finished with 14 total hits in the win, including seven extra base hits.

Offensively, the Mavericks began quickly against LMC as they pushed across two runs in the first inning. Freshman McKenzie Paap brought in the first run for MSU after she singled to the shortsop which brought senior Tatum Klein home from third. A couple of batters later, junior Samantha Buhmann, nailed a double to right field and Paap came racing home.

In the next inning up to bat, the Mavericks put one more run on the board after Paap delivered again with a RBI single through the right side that brought sophomore Kelly Grove to cross the plate.

Through the next three innings the Mavericks were held scoreless before they opened up the score in the sixth inning. The Mavericks poured in five runs in the top of the sixth as MSU's first four batters all reached base safely. Freshman Cori Kennedy started the inning with a lead-off double to right center and crossed home plate on the next at-bat, as Grove answered with a double down the left field line. Senior Emily Bransky was next in the batters box for MSU and she successfully laid down a bunt single which allowed Grove to advance to third and eventually crossed the plate on LMC's throw. Due up next was senior Karli DesLauriers and she hit the third double of the inning to left center to help bring Branksy home.

MSU was far from over in the inning as Buhamnn delivered a two-RBI double to centerfield with two outs. DesLauriers and junior Dana Mogren both scored on the play.

In the bottom of the sixth senior Katie Koponen came in relief of Bemis and was able to close out the Bobcats for the 8-0 win.

In game two against Northwood, junior pitcher Coley Ries [6-3] dominated from start to finish as she struck out 17 of the 24 Timberwolves batters faced in the 4-0 shutout win. Ries threw all seven innings and allowed only one hit. The 17 strikeouts ties Ries' career-high as she fanned 17 batters against Concordia-St. Paul on March 26, 2014.

MSU scored all four of it runs through the first and fourth innings. In the first inning, Dana Mogren began the scoring with a RBI single to right field, as Tatum Klein crossed the plate.

In the second inning, Kelly Grove blasted a solo homerun to give the Mavericks a 2-0 heading into the third. That was Grove's first career homerun in a MSU uniform.

In the bottom of the third sophomore Kara Lattery notched a sacrifice fly to center field as sophomore Jess Meidl scored from third on the play. MSU scored its final run in the bottom of the fourth, as Klein tallied a RBI bunt single which brought Karli DesLauriers to cross the plate.

With the two wins the Mavericks extend their overall record to 10-4 on the season.

MSU will have Tuesday off but will return to action on Wednesday afternoon. The Mavericks will take on Bloomsburg and Southern Indiana at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively.