SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- The Minnesota State softball team jumped out in front early on as it went on to claim a 6-2 win over Southwest Minnesota State on day one of the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 41-13 on the season, while the Mustangs fall to 17-32.
Junior
Coley Ries (25-5) picked up the win for the Mavericks as she struck out five batters in four scoreless innings, while giving up just one hit. MSU sophomore
Libby Bemis finished the game for the Mavericks as she gave up two runs in the final three innings. Athena Golling (6-10) took the loss as she gave up five runs, on nine hits, in 2.1 innings.
The Mavericks did not waste any time jumping out in front of the Mustangs as freshman
McKenzie Paap drilled her first career home run, a solo shot to right center, to put MSU up 1-0.
MSU would then go on to add a pair of runs in both the second and third innings to go up 5-0. Senior
Tatum Klein plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the second with an RBI-single, before the bats of sophomores
Jess Meidl and
Kara Lattery added another two runs in the bottom of the third. Meidl cranked a solo shot down the right field line for her second home run of the season, before Lattery doubled in junior
Samantha Buhmann.
SMSU finally reach the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as Mackenzie Clouse homered to right field to bring the Mustangs within four of the Mavericks at 5-1. The Mavericks would counter the Mustangs in the bottom of the sixth as junior
Dana Mogren drove in senior
Karli DesLauriers with a single up the middle.
SMSU managed to get one more run in the top of the seventh off a sacrifice bunt, but that would be all they could muster as Bemis shut the door to give the Mavericks the 6-2 win.
Klein, Meidl and Paap each led the Mavericks with two hits each, with Paap scoring two runs and Klein driving in two.
The Mavericks will play at least two games in the NSIC Tournament on Saturday, beginning at 12:00 p.m., as MSU takes on Augustana.
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