SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- The Minnesota State softball team posted a come from behind, 4-3 win over Augustana, before dropping a 1-0 decision to Upper Iowa on day two of the NSIC Tournament Friday.

MSU now owns a 42-14 overall record on the season.

Minnesota State began the day with a 4-3 victory over the Augustana Vikings, which saw MSU rally from a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

Junior Coley Ries (26-5) picked up the win as she threw a complete game in which she gave up three runs, on six hits, while striking out eight. Karlee Koopman (13-9) took the loss as she gave up two runs on seven hits, in 5.2 innings. Carley Pickett threw one inning for the Vikings as well where she gave up two runs and three hits.

MSU once again opened up a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Freshman McKenzie Paap reached base on a fielding error and eventually moved up to second base with two outs. With two outs, junior Ashley Thell drove in Paap with an RBI-double to give MSU the early 1-0 lead.

The Mavericks added another run in the bottom of the second junior Samantha Buhmann led off the inning with a solo shot to center field to put Minnesota State up 2-0. Ries looked sharp through the first five innings of the contest as she allowed just three hits as the Mavericks held their 2-0 lead.

The top of the sixth saw the Vikings' bats come alive as Pickett and Carly Peterson led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After Shannon Peterson grounded into a fielder's choice, Maggie Kadrlik stepped up and hit a three-run home run down the right field line to put Augustana up 3-2.

Trailing 3-2 into the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Kelly Grove opened the bottom of the inning with a single to center field and was moved up to second off a sacrifice bunt from senior Karli DesLauriers. The next batter Paap reached first via a fielder's choice, while Grove moved up to third on a fielding error by the shortstop.

Grove then came in to score off a wild pitch, with Paap advancing to second. A ground out moved Paap up to third with two outs, who was then driven in by a single from junior Dana Mogren to give the Mavericks the 4-3 win.

Thell led the Maverick offense against the Vikings as she tallied three of MSU's 10 hits. Mogren added two hits as well.

MSU's second game of the day against Upper Iowa featured a pitcher's duel between MSU's Ries (26-6) and UIU's Brooke Redmond (19-6), but it was Upper Iowa that was able to come away with the 1-0 victory. Both Ries and Redmond gave up a combined total of five hits as a total of six runners were left stranded on base.

Through five complete innings the game remained scoreless as both teams managed just one hit apiece. Both teams also left just two runners on base through five innings as well.

The top of the sixth opened with what turned out to be the game's only run as Sammy Garrett crushed a home run to center field to give the Peacocks a 1-0 lead. MSU managed to get a pair of runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth but Redmond was able to force a pop up to end the inning. Both teams were set down in order in the seventh inning as Redmond secured the 1-0 win.

Ries finished the game allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out seven batters. Redmond, who allowed just two hits and two walks, struck out 12 Maverick batters.

At the plate, Klein recorded both of MSU's hits. She also recorded a stolen base.

The Mavericks continue action in the NSIC Tournament on Saturday as they take on Minnesota Duluth at 10:00 a.m. Should MSU defeat the Bulldogs, it will have to defeat Upper Iowa twice to secure the NSIC Tournament championship.

 

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