Photo credit: photos.paap.net

SALEM, V.A. --- A five run fifth inning pushed second-seeded Minnesota State Softball past third-seeded Armstrong State, 8-4, Friday afternoon at the NCAA Championships.

With the win, Minnesota State moves to 61-7 on the season and will play the winner of game 10 at 5:30 p.m. CST tomorrow. With the loss, Armstrong State falls to 37-13 on the season.

Senior pitcher Coley Ries (38-3) reached double digits with her 10 strikeout performance to earn the win for the Mavericks. Senior pitcher Tori Bates (6-2) takes the loss after pitching 4.1 innings with two strikeouts. Senior Jane Trzaska finished the game for the Pirates with two strikeouts over 2.2 innings of work.

Sophomore McKenzie Paap didn't let the delayed start effect the Mavericks as she opened the game sneaking a hit inside the left field line for her 17th double of the season. Later in the inning, freshmanAmber Kral sent Paap home with her shot between the shortstops legs to make the score 1-0.

The Pirates responded after scoreless second frame to lock the game, 1-1, in the third inning. Sophomore Macy Coleman was able to connect on her 14th long ball of the season over the right field fence.

Minnesota State then erupted for a huge five run fifth inning which began with senior Ashley Thell singling to center sending junior Alyssa Rickels home to regain the advantage, 2-1. The Mavericks followed it up as Kral reached on a fielder's choice after a throwing error allowing Paap and junior Jess Meidl to get home, 4-1. Minnesota State continued to swing a hot bat in the inning as Freshman Carly Esselman delivered a two run double to left field to increase the advantage to 6-1.

Armstrong State would not go away as it got two runners on base in the sixth frame. Junior Katie Collings then pulled the Pirates within two runs, 6-4, as she hit her 14th home run of the season and the teams second of the game to left field.

Minnesota State fought off the Armstrong State comeback bid adding an insurance run, 7-4, as Samantha Buhmann singled to left scoring Meidl. The Mavericks then doubled up the Pirates later in the inning to seal the 8-4 win using an Esselman single sending Thell across.

Minnesota State totaled 11 hits as a team while Armstrong State notched four. Esselman set the pace with a game-high three hits. Paap (2), Thell (2), and Buhmann (2) also reached the multiple hit plateau to round out the top performers.