BENTONVILLE, Ark. --- The Minnesota State softball team dropped a 5-2 decision to Pittsburg State before grinding out a 2-1 win over Central Missouri in the final day at the UAM 8-State Classic. 

In game one, Minnesota State dropped a 5-2 decision to Pittsburg State. Senior pitcher Coley Ries took her first loss of the season after pitching six innings and posting a game-high nine strikeouts. Emmie Robertson gets the win after pitching seven innings and recording seven strikeouts.

The Gorillas got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning with a home run to left center to make the score 1-0. Both teams then went scoreless until Pittsburg State stretched its lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning after a three run RBI home run to left center field. 

Minnesota State added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning highlighted by a McKenzie Paap RBI single to the short stop allowing Carly Esselman to get home and cut the deficit down to three, 5-2. However, the Mavericks could not cut the lead down any further as the Gorillas went on to win the game, 5-2.    

Minnesota State recorded ten hits as a team while Pittsburg State posted five hits. 

Minnesota State rebounded in game two with a 2-1 win over Central Missouri. Junior pitcher Libby Bemis earned her third win of the season after pitching a complete game with three strikeouts while giving up one hit. Alexa Bradley takes the loss after pitching 6.1 innings with no strikeouts and allowing five hits. 

The Mavericks struck early in the bottom of the second inning after Samantha Buhmann scored on a unearned run, 1-0. The Jennies locked the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning after scoring on an unearned run. 

Minnesota State got the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning after Esselman singled allowing to Dana Mogren to score an unearned run after a throwing error on the final play to win the game, 2-1. 

Four Mavericks recorded hits in the win: freshman Amber Kral (1), Buhmann (1), Mogren (1), and Esselman (2). 

Following today's games, Minnesota State moves to 7-3 overall on the season. The Mavericks return to the diamond on Mar. 4 at the Spring Games in Clearmont, Fla. MSU will take on Walsh at 1:00 p.m., and Southern Indiana at 3:30 p.m.