BENTONVILLE, Ark.  ---  The Minnesota State softball team split at the opening day of the UAM 8-State Classic Friday afternoon. The Mavericks downed #18 Harding, 1-0, in the first game and then fell to Missouri Western State, 3-2, in game two. 

In game one, the Mavericks fought to a 1-0 win over #18 Harding. Senior pitcher Coley Ries earned the win pitching all seven innings while posting 10 strikeouts and only giving up three hits. Autumn Humes picked up her first loss of the season after pitching seven innings and recording a game-high 12 strikeouts. 

For the first five innings of play neither team was able to score a run as the game quickly turned into a pitchers dual. Harding had an opportunity to put runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning but were unable to capitalize. 

Jess Meidl was able to connect on the game-winning home run to center field in the top of the sixth inning to give the Mavericks a 1-0 edge. The Bisons made a late push in the bottom of the sixth inning getting two on base but would not be able to generate any runs. The Mavericks went on to close out the game an earn the 1-0 win. 

Sophomore McKenzie Paap, freshman Amber Kral, and Meidl all recorded on hit in the win.

In game two, Missouri Western State outlasted Minnesota State, 3-2. Junior pitcher Libby Bemis takes the loss after pitching all seven innings while striking out six batters and giving up six hits. Barbara Billingsley earned the win after pitching seven innings with three strikeouts and allowing seven hits. 

The Mavericks took the early lead in the bottom of the second with a Alyssa Rickels RBI single to left field allowing Kral to get home for the 1-0 advantage. The Griffons got the equalizer in the top of the third after Morgan Rathmann scored on an unearned run making the score 1-1 after three innings. 

The game then went scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when Missouri Western State took control with a two run RBI home run to center field from Katie Klosterman to extend the lead to 3-1. Meidl was able to bring the Mavericks within one run, 3-2, after a home run to center field in the bottom of the seventh. Minnesota State was not able to rally late and went to drop its first game of the season, 3-2. 

The Mavericks posted seven hits as a team in comparison to the Griffons six. 

Following today's games, Minnesota State moves to 5-1 overall on the season. The Mavericks return to action tomorrow against Arkansas Tech at 9:00 a.m., and Arkansas Monitcello at 11:00 a.m.