CLERMONT, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team wrapped up competition at the Spring Games Thursday evening as it defeated Northwood (7-1) and Hillsdale (9-1).
With the wins, MSU improves to 17-3 on the season. The Mavericks have now won their last 11 games.
MSU began the day with a 7-1 victory over the Northwood Timberwolves. Senior
Coley Ries (9-1) picked up the win as she threw six scoreless innings, while striking out 12 batters. Makenzie North (1-2) took the loss as she gave up five runs, four earned, in 4.2 innings.
After a pair of scoreless innings to open the game, the Mavericks reached the scoring column in the bottom of the third. Senior
Samantha Buhmann led off with a triple and was driven in after a sacrifice fly from sophomore Cori Kennedy. MSU added to its lead an inning later as MSU scored three runs, using three hits and one error, to go up 4-0. Both Buhmann and senior
Ashley Thell notched RBI-doubles, while freshman
Carly Esselman drove in a run with a ground out to second.
The Mavericks added another run in the fifth inning to go up 5-0, before Kennedy put the Mavericks up 7-0 after blasting a two-run home run. The Timberwolves managed to get an unearned run in the top of the seventh but they would get no closer as the Mavericks locked down the 7-1 win.
As a team, MSU recorded seven hits, two of which came courtesy of both Buhmann and Thell. Kennedy added a team-best three RBI as well.
Minnesota State finished the day with a 9-1 win in five innings over Hillsdale. Junior
Libby Bemis (8-2) earned the win for the Mavericks and has won her last six starts. Erin Gordon (1-3) took the loss as she gave up nine runs, three earned, in three innings.
After a scoreless first inning, the Mavericks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second. Senior
Dana Mogren got the scoring going with an RBI-single, before sophomore
McKenzie Paap posted a two-run double to left center. Junior
Jess Meidl notched an RBI-single to right center as well.
The third inning saw the Mavericks add five more runs to go up 9-0. Mogren, Kennedy and Meidl each drove in a run, while another two runs crossed the plate via a Charger error.
In total, four Mavericks recorded at least two hits against Hillsdale, including Meidl who tallied a game-high three. Esselman notched a game-high three stolen bases as well.
Minnesota State returns to action on Friday, March 17, as it takes on Northeastern State and Washburn at the Missouri Western Tournament in St. Joseph, Mo. Game times are set for 10:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m., respectively.
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