Photo Credit: photos.paap.net

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --- The Minnesota State softball team fell to Pittsburg State, 1-0, before capturing a 8-1 win over #18 Missouri Western State at the Hy-Vee Classic Sunday afternoon. 

Following today's games, the Mavericks improve to 22-4 on the season. 

In game one, Pittsburg State edged Minnesota State, 1-0, to snap the Mavericks 15-game win streak. Senior right-handed pitcher Coley Ries (11-2) tossed 14 strikeouts in seven innings of work. Emmie Robertson (14-3) earns the win after pitching a complete game with six strikeouts and allowing two hits. 

Following three scoreless innings, Minnesota State threatened to score the games first run in the bottom of the fourth inning after a Jess Meidl single. However, the Mavericks could not score the run and the game stayed locked at 0-0. 

Pittsburg State found the scoring column in the top of the seventh inning with a RBI single for the game-winning run, 1-0. Minnesota State was unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning after one fly out and two strikeouts. 

The Gorillas totaled three hits while the Mavericks posted two hits. 

In game two, Minnesota State cruised past #18 Missouri Western State, 8-1, on the way to its third win over a top-25 opponent this season. Junior Libby Bemis posted her 11th win of the season (11-2) after pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts. Barbara Billingsley (10-3) also pitched a complete game with one strikeout in the loss. 

After a scoreless opening inning, Minnesota State took a 3-0 advantage in the second inning after a Amber Kral single which allowed Alyssa Rickels to score an unearned run. Later in the inning, the Griffons cut into the deficit with a RBI to make the score 3-1. 

Minnesota State increased its lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning after a run from McKenzie Paap. The Mavericks continued to find offense in the sixth inning to stretch their edge to 7-1 after Ashley Thell delivered her first home run of the season on a two run RBI. The Mavericks added one more in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach, 8-1. 

MSU recorded 10 hits as a team with Cori Kennedy, Thell, and Paap each posting two hits.

Minnesota State will return to action when it hosts Concordia-St. Paul on March 28 to open NSIC play. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m.