Photo credit: photos.paap.net

BISMARCK, N.D. --- The #10 Minnesota State softball team extended its win streak to 18 games following a sweep of University of Mary, 7-1, and, 8-3, Saturday afternoon. 

With the win, Minnesota State improves to 48-6 overall and 26-2 NSIC on the season. U-Mary drops to 19-34 overall and 13-15 NSIC. 

In game one, Minnesota State downed U-Mary, 7-1. Senior pitcher Coley Ries (25-2) threw a complete game with 14 strikeouts and has now won her last 14 starts. Madison Janner (5-7) tossed one strikeout over 5.2 innings of work in the loss. 

Minnesota State wasted little time tallying two runs in the game's opening stanza as junior Jess Meidl scored an unearned run on a wild pitch. Senior Ashley Thell added the innings second run after freshman Amber Kral singled to right field to make the score 2-0. The Mavericks notched a run in the third inning as junior Alyssa Rickels was able to get across following a balk to increase the lead to 3-0. 

After three scoreless innings, Thell flied out to center field which allowed Meidl to get home after an error, 4-0. Minnesota State then took control of the game in the sixth inning as Meidl smashed her eighth home run of the season with a two run RBI shot to center field increasing the edge to 6-0. Kral followed it up with RBI double to left field to make the score 7-0. 

U-Mary attempted to rally in the sixth as it loading the bases and then scored a run to snap Ries 58 scoreless innings streak. However, Ries was then was able to strikeout a batter to end the inning preserving the 7-1 win. 

Minnesota State compiled 11 hits as a team while Kral set the pace with a game-high three hits and two RBI. 

In game two, Minnesota State outlasted U-Mary, 8-3. Junior pitcher Libby Bemis earns her 23rd win of the season tossing seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Brieann Backes (9-14) takes the loss throwing five strikeouts in 5.0 innings. 

U-Mary got the scoreboard in the opening inning with a RBI ground out to make the score 1-0. After a scoreless second, sophomore McKenzie Paap got home on passed ball to lock the game, 1-1, in the third stanza. Paap struck again for the Mavericks in the fourth inning with a two run RBI blast to left field increasing the advantage to 4-1. 

With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, seniorDana Mogren was hit by pitch sending Kral across, 5-1. U-Mary retaliated in the sixth inning adding two runs to pull within two, 5-3. Minnesota State then made a pitching change as Ries was called upon to make her fifth save of the season. Minnesota State closed out the contest in the seventh inning totaling three runs highlighted by an RBI single to left field from Rickels. Ries recorded two strikeouts in the save as the Mavericks went on to win 8-3. 

Minnesota State posted 12 hits with Thell (3), Paap (2), Buhmann (2), and Esselman (2) each delivering multiple hits. 

The Mavericks continue their road trip at Minot State tomorrow. The doubleheader is scheduled begin at 12:00 p.m.