Photo credit: photos.paap.net

ST. CLOUD, Minn --- The No. 1 Minnesota State softball team downed Fort Hays State, 7-1, and Southwest Baptist, 3-0, to remain unbeaten Sunday afternoon at the Husky dome.

With the wins, Minnesota State (9-0) is off to its best start in team history since the program's inception in the 1974 season.

In game one, Minnesota State topped Fort Hays State (2-13), 7-1. Sophomore Caitlin Stone (2-0) earned her second career win tossing three strikeouts in a complete game. Freshman Megan Jamison (0-1) picked up the loss allowing three hits and two runs for the Tigers.

Sophomore Carly Esselman sparked the Mavericks with a RBI triple to left center sending senior Jessica Meidl home for the game's first run, 1-0. Sophomore Amber Kral followed it up blasting a single up the middle to score Esselman making the score 2-0 after the first frame. Fort Hays State cut the deficit in half in the second inning with a RBI single from freshman Sara Breckbill to pull within one, 2-1.

Following two scoreless innings, the Mavericks erupted with a three run fifth frame. Freshman Torey Richards highlighted the inning with a two RBI double to center field increasing the Minnesota State edge to 5-1. The Mavericks added two insurance runs in the six stanza with scores from Stone and Meidl to seal the 7-1 win.

Esselman paced Minnesota State with a game-best three hits and three RBI. Meidl also contributed two hits, two runs, and one RBI, while Kral tallied two hits, one run and one RBI to round out the top performers.

In game two, Minnesota State grinded out a 3-0 win over Southwest Baptist (3-10). Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Ward (5-0) tossed her third complete game of the season with four strikeouts. Sophomore Claire Miller (1-6) takes the loss with seven strikeouts in a complete game.

Minnesota State got the scoreboard in the top half of the first frame as junior Cori Kennedy delivered a single to score Esselman, 1-0. The game then turned into a pitchers a dual as neither team registered a run for the next five innings.

Kennedy once again came up with a big hit in the final inning with a single which allowed Meidl to get home making the score 2-0. Minnesota State added one more insurance run in the frame as freshman Rae Dose scored an unearned run to cap the 3-0 win.

Kennedy posted a game-best three hits and two RBI. Minnesota State totaled eight hits as a team in comparison to Southwest Baptist's six.

Minnesota State returns to action on March 3 in Clermont, Fla., at The Spring Games. The Mavericks will take on Urbana at 8:00 a.m., and Hillsdale at 10:30 a.m.