ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State softball team picked up its second straight sweep after blanking Northwest Missouri State, 10-0, and then coming from behind to win game two, 7-6, in eight innings Sunday evening.

In game one, Minnesota State (4-0) blanked Northwest Missouri State (3-5), 10-0. Freshman Mackenzie Ward (2-0) earned the win tossing three strikeouts in a complete game. Taylor Blackford (1-3) takes the loss with two strikeouts and allowing five hits.

The Bearcats attempted to get the scoring started but stranded a runner in each of the game's first two innings. In the third frame, Minnesota State began to swing a hot bat posting five hits and scoring seven runs. Senior Jessica Meidl opened the scoring with a single to center field allowing freshman Torey Richards and freshman Julia Bastian to get across. Minnesota State led after three innings of play, 7-0.

The Bearcats attempted to put a comeback together in the bottom half of the fourth inning but the Maverick defense held strong to keep the shutout intact. Meidl struck again adding an insurance run in the seventh frame with her first home run of the season to make the score 8-0. 

Minnesota State went on to add two more runs in the stanza with scores from junior Cori Kennedy and sophomore Amber Kral to put the game out of reach and seal the 10-0 win.

Meidl paced Minnesota State with three RBI, two hits, two runs, and one home run. Richards added a team-high four RBI with three hits and one run.

In game two, Minnesota State came back to down Northwest Missouri State, 7-6, in eight innings. Sophomore Caitlin Stone made her first career start in the circle allowing six hits in 3.0 innings of work. Sophomore Bria Majeski also saw three innings of action before Ward (3-0) finished the game allowing only one hit in two innings. Regan Thompson (0-1) takes the loss giving up two hits in two innings.

The Bearcats jumped out to a quick 3-0 edge after scoring an unearned run and posting a two RBI home run in the top of the first frame. Sophomore Carly Esselman answered for the Mavericks with a RBI single to left field cutting the deficit down to two, 3-1, in the bottom half of the inning. Minnesota State continued to apply pressure in the frame to pull within one, 3-2, after Kennedy sent a RBI single to center field.

Minnesota State locked the game at three in the second frame after junior McKenzie Paap reached on an error to allow freshman Hannah Hastings to score the game tying unearned run. Northwest Missouri State responded by scoring three runs in the third inning to regain its advantage, 6-3.

After two scoreless frames, Minnesota State erupted with three runs to lock the game, 6-6, in the sixth inning. Kral used a sacrifice fly to send Paap across to tie the contest. Ward then checked into the game for Majeski to close out the game in the circle. After a scoreless seventh inning, Paap drilled a RBI single to right field sending Richards home for the walk-off come from behind victory.

Paap led Minnesota State with a team-best three hits to go along with two runs and one RBI. Esselman contributed a team-high two RBI with two hits. Kennedy rounded out the top performers registering two hits and one RBI.

Minnesota State returns to action on Thursday against Missouri Western State in St. Cloud, Minn., at the Regional Crossover / Kelly LAAS Memorial Invite. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

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