Photo Credit: photos.paap.net

ST. CLOUD, Minn. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State softball team remained unbeaten after sweeping Missouri Western State, 8-7, and, 15-5, Thursday night at the Husky Dome.

In game one, Minnesota State (6-0) came back to down Missouri Western State (3-9), 8-7, in 10 innings. Sophomore Caitlin Stone (1-0) earned her first career win tossing three strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work. Freshman Mackenzie Ward started the game and posted two strikeouts in 2.1 innings of action. Kenzie Hilzer (2-5) picks up the loss for Missouri Western State with six strikeouts over 9.1 innings.

Junior McKenzie Paap got the hitting started with her first triple of the season to left center. One batter later, sophomore Carly Esselman tallied her first triple of the season for the RBI sending home Paap. Minnesota State led after one, 1-0.  Missouri Western State pushed back in the second frame scoring three runs on three hits to take its first lead of the contest, 3-1.

The Mavericks battled back in the in the bottom half of the second inning registering unearned runs from freshman Hannah McCarville and freshman Julia Bastian to deadlock the contest, 3-3. The Griffons fought back in the third inning posting two runs to regain the edge, 5-3. In the fourth frame, the Mavericks cut the deficit down to one, 5-4, following a RBI single to left field from junior Cori Kennedy.

After both teams added a run in the fifth stanza, Minnesota State locked the contest, 6-6, following McCarville singling to center for a RBI. The game then went into extras and after no scores in the seventh, each team posted a run in the eighth. Following a scoreless ninth, sophomore Amber Kral came up clutch with a RBI single up the middle to send senior Jessica Meidl home for the winning run to complete the comeback, 8-7.

Esselman led Minnesota State with two runs, one hit, and one RBI, while Bastian added two runs and two hits of her own. Paap rounded out the top performers in game one with two hits, one RBI, and one run.

In game two, Minnesota State rolled past Missouri Western State, 15-5, in five innings. Sophomore Bria Majeski (2-0) earned her second win of the season with two strikeouts in three innings. Freshman Lexi Schoper finished the final two innings allowing three hits. Freshman Kaili Hinds (1-4) takes the loss for the Griffons with two strikeouts over 4.1 innings.

The Mavericks started fast totaling five runs on three hits in the first frame. Minnesota State opened up a 5-0 edge after freshman Torey Richards used a sacrifice fly to get Kennedy home. The Griffons cut the MSU advantage down to four, 5-1, in the bottom half of the inning with a Emma Hoffart RBI double. Following a scoreless second frame, Missouri Western State added two more runs in the third to pull within two, 5-3.

The Mavericks then broke the game open with a 10-run and eight hit fourth inning to increase the edge to 15-3. The run was sparked by a three RBI double to left center by Esselman scoring Meidl, Paap, and Bastian. Missouri Western State attempted to make a late surge in the fifth inning scoring two runs, but it would not be enough as Minnesota State went on to pick up the 15-5 victory.

Esselman paced the Mavericks with a game-high four RBI to go along with two runs and one hit. Paap chipped in three hits, three runs and a game-best two stolen bases. Minnesota State totaled 14 hits as team in comparison to the Missouri Western States eight.

The Mavericks return to action at the Regional Crossover / Kelly Laas Memorial Invite on Saturday against Nebraska-Kearney. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m.