SALEM, V.A. --- Second-seeded Minnesota State used a four run third inning to blank seventh-seeded Southern Indiana, 5-0, at the NCAA Championships on Thursday night.

The Mavericks (60-7) capture their 60th win of the season while the Screaming Eagles fall to 46-13 on the season. MSU will face third-seeded Armstrong State at 12:30 p.m. CST tomorrow afternoon.

NFCA National Player of the Year, Coley Ries (37-3), earned the shutout tossing seven strikeouts in a complete game. Freshman Jennifer Leonhardt (29-3) picks up the loss giving up four hits in three innings of work. Sophomore Caitlyn Bradley finished the game in the circle for the Screaming Eagles with one strikeout over three innings.

Following a rain delay, senior Samantha Buhmann stole the momentum for the Mavericks with her sixth home run blast of the season to left field to take the early, 1-0, advantage in the second frame. In the third inning, Southern Indiana attempted to get a runner on with a shot to left field which was collected by sophomore McKenzie Paap and thrown on a line to senior Ashley Thell tagging the runner out at second base.

After a freshman Caitlin Stone run in the third stanza, freshman Amber Kral cracked the game open with a three run home run shot over the centerfielders glove to make the score 5-0. It was her 14th long ball of the season which moves her into first place all-time for home runs in a season passing Abby Wagner (2006).

Southern Indiana was not able to mount a comeback as it went on to strand four runners over the course of the next four innings. Thell sealed the Mavericks shutout win making a catch in foul territory and then firing a dart to senior Dana Mogren at second base to complete the double play.

Minnesota State totaled six hits as a team while Southern Indiana posted five hits. Kral set the standard for the Mavericks with a game-high two hits and three RBI.