ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State softball team opened the 2018 season with a sweep of Missouri Western State, 9-0, and, 11-7, Saturday afternoon.

In game one, Minnesota State (2-0) blanked Missouri Western State (2-6), 9-0. Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Ward (1-0) made her Maverick debut tossing six strikeouts and allowing five hits in a complete game.  Kenzie Hilzer (1-4) takes the loss for Griffons with three strikeouts over four innings.

After a scoreless first two innings of action, Sophomore Kennedy Rieck singled up the middle in the third inning which allowed freshman Torey Richards to get home for the game's first run of the day.  Minnesota State tallied three hits and scored three runs in the inning to jump out to a quick 3-0 advantage.  

One inning later, Freshman Hannah McCarville stretched the lead for the Mavericks with a two run RBI home run down the left field line to make the score 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Minnesota State then added another run as sophomore Amber Kral doubled down the left field line for a RBI to push the edge to 6-0 in the top of the fifth inning. The Mavericks added insurance runs with three runs in the top of seventh on scores from Paap, senior Jessica Meidl and sophomore Carly Esselman to seal the 9-0 win.

Paap led Minnesota State with a team-high two runs with three hits. Meidl also added three hits with one run. McCarville tallied two RBI with one home run, while Kral contributed two RBI with one hit.

Minnesota State posted 10 hits as a team in comparison to Missouri Western State's four hits.

In game two, the Mavericks held off the Griffons, 11-7. Sophomore Bria Majeski (1-0) made her first career start allowing six hits in 3.1 innings of work. Freshman Lexi Schoper also saw three innings of work posting three strikeouts in three innings. Ward finished the game with one strikeout in .2 innings of action. Kaili Hinds (1-2) picks up the loss allowing seven hits with two strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

Junior Cori Kennedy blasted a double to right center for two run RBI scoring Paap and Meidl to make the score 2-0 early in the first frame. One inning later, Meidl got an RBI single to drop in right field sending Richards across to increase the edge to 3-0.

Minnesota State continued to apply pressure in the fourth frame as Meidl struck once again with her second hit of the contest allowing two runners to score and stretch the lead to 5-0. The big inning continued as Kral delivered a three-run home run over the center field wall stretching the lead to 8-0.

The Griffons battled back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the lead in half, 8-4. Minnesota State then made a pitching change as Schoper took over for Majeski. Missouri Western State added another run after Shelby Uhl connected on a RBI double to center field cutting the edge down to three, 8-5.

Minnesota State responded with a three run fifth inning and pushed its lead back up to six, 11-5, after Kennedy singled up the middle to drive in Meidl. The Griffons made one last surge adding runs in the six and seventh frames, but it would not be enough as the Mavericks went on to pick up the 11-7 win.

Meidl paced Minnesota State with a game-high four hits, while Richards contributed three hits. Kral rounded out the top performers with a game-best four RBI and two hits.

Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow against Northwest Missouri State. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.