EMPORIA, Kan. --- The No. 10 Minnesota State softball team fell short against Pittsburg State, 2-1, and Missouri Southern State, 13-11.

In game one, Minnesota State (16-5) suffered a 2-1 setback to Pittsburg State (10-17, 1-3 MIAA). Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Ward (6-3) tossed a season-high eight strikeouts in a complete game for the Mavericks. Senior Bree Cornett (4-8) earns the win for the Gorillas allowing no hits in 2.2 innings of work.

After two scoreless innings to open the contest, Minnesota State got on a scoreboard, 1-0, after junior Cori Kennedy connected on a RBI single up the middle allowing senior Jessica Meidl to get home.  The Gorillas answered in the fourth frame locking the contest, 1-1, after a score by junior Chloe Holman. Pittsburg State then sealed the win following junior Kristen Van Hoosen's RBI to second base which sent Holman home to make the score 2-1.

Kennedy, sophomore Carly Esselman, and freshman Julia Bastian led the Mavericks with a game-best two hits each.

In game two, Minnesota State added two runs in the seventh inning, but couldn't complete the comeback against Missouri Southern State (10-15), 13-11.

Freshman Lexi Schoper (1-1) takes the loss with one strikeout in 1.1 innings. Sophomore Bria Majeski appeared for 3.2 innings and totaled a game-high four strikeouts. Sophomore Caitlin Stone and Ward also saw action for the Mavericks. Sophomore Mikaela Cox picks up the win for the Lions with one strikeout in 2.1 innings.

Missouri Southern State scored four runs in the opening frame to jump out to a quick 4-0 edge. Minnesota State responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning to steal the lead, 6-4. The frame was highlighted by a two RBI home run from junior McKenzie Paap. It was her first slam of the season and third of her career. The Lions retaliated in the second inning adding a run to pull within one, 6-5, after sophomore Elizabeth Windsor got home.

Following a scoreless third frame, Minnesota State pushed its lead up three, 8-5, in the fourth inning following a two RBI home run from sophomore Amber Kral. It was her team-best fourth of the season and 18th of her career. However, the Lions battled back posting three runs in the bottom half of the stanza to lock the contest, 8-8.

Missouri Southern State continued to apply pressure into the fifth frame pushing four runs across to open up a 12-8 advantage. Minnesota State chipped into the deficit in the sixth after Meidl got home a wild pitch, 12-9. The Lions then tacked on one more run in the bottom half with a home run from junior Lexi Ferrari to make the score 13-9. Minnesota State made one final comeback attempt in the seventh inning with scores from Kennedy and freshman Torey Richards cutting the edge down to two, 13-11. However, the Mavericks left two runners on and went on to drop the contest, 13-11.

Kral paced Minnesota State with game-high and season-best five RBI. She also added three hits and one home run to her stat line. As a team, the Mavericks held the edge in hits, 22-13.

Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow against Central Oklahoma at 2:00 p.m., before taking on Emporia State at 4:00 p.m.

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