SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- The #21 Minnesota State softball saw an eight-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday evening as the Mavericks split their NSIC road doubleheader against the Sioux Falls Cougars.

The Mavericks won the opening game 3-2, before dropping the finale 5-4. MSU now owns a 29-5 overall record, including a 7-1 NSIC record. USF now owns a 17-16 overall record, including a 4-4 conference record.

Minnesota State opened the day with a 3-2 win in game one of the doubleheader. Senior Coley Ries picked up the win (15-2) as she pitched a complete game in which she gave up just two runs on six hits, while striking out nine batters. Her win also marked her 93rd career win at MSU and she now ranks second all-time at Minnesota State in career wins, trailing Carri Tschida's record of 97 career wins. Breanna Black (4-5) took the loss as she gave up three run and eight hits in 2.1 innings.

The Mavericks jumped out in front 2-0 early on in the top of the first. Junior Jess Meidl recorded a one-out single to center field before senior Ashley Thell blasted a two-run home run to left center.

MSU added another run in the top of the third to go up 3-0. Meidl and Thell opened the inning with singles, before freshman Amber Kral drove in Meidl with a single up the middle.

Sioux Falls managed to cut MSU's lead down to one as both Emily Hove and Kenna Heath hit leadoff home runs in the bottom half of the third and fourth innings, respectively.

MSU's 3-2 lead held as the game went into the bottom of the seventh, but a double by Francesca Mickelson and a walk to Hove placed the winning run on first base with nobody out. Ries managed to strikeout the next two batters, before forcing a ground out to end the game.

Meidl, Thell, Kral and junior Alyssa Rickels each paced the Maverick offense in game one with two hits each.  

The Cougars manage to split the doubleheader as they rallied late in game two to claim a 5-4 win. Junior Libby Bemis (14-3) took the loss as she gave up five runs, three earned, on eight hits while striking out four. Courtney Mathews (6-6) earned the win as she gave up three runs in four innings of work.

The Cougars managed to jump out in front with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Jasmine Ragusi plated Lindsey Mossman with a fielder's choice. The Mavericks responded right away in the top of the second to knot up the score at 1-1. With two outs, senior Dana Mogren doubled to right center, before freshman Carly Esselman drove her in with an RBI-single to left field.  

The score remained tied 1-1 heading into the fifth inning. Sophomore Cori Kennedy opened the inning with a single to left center. Freshman Caitlin Stone came on to pinch run for Kennedy and moved up to second after a sacrifice bunt. Freshman McKenzie Paap then reach first after being hit by a pitch, before Meidl stepped in and cranked a three-run home run to center field to put MSU up 4-1.

The Cougars managed to get two runs back in the bottom of the sixth, which came courtesy of an RBI-single from Mickelson and a sacrifice fly from Hove. Trailing 4-3 with one out in the bottom of the seventh, USF saw three straight players reach base. Schifferle and Ragusi both recorded singles, before a Maverick throwing error allowed the tying run to cross the plate. With USF runners on second and third, MSU managed to get the second out, but Mickelson was able to drive in the winning with a single down the left line to give the Cougars the 5-4 win.

Minnesota State continues its road trip on Saturday as it takes on Minnesota Duluth. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. 

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