Photo credit: photos.paap.net

EMPORIA, Kan. --- The No. 10 Minnesota State softball team swept Central Oklahoma, 10-2, and Emporia State, 5-4, Saturday afternoon.

In game one, Minnesota State (18-5) toppled Central Oklahoma (17-11), 10-2, in six innings. Freshman Mackenzie Ward (7-3) earns the win and totaled two strikeouts in a complete game. Junior Jobi Heath (0-1) takes the loss for the Bronchos allowing seven hits over 2.2 innings of action.

Following a scoreless opening inning, Minnesota State jumped out to a quick 2-0 edge after freshman Hailey Forshee and freshman Julia Bastian each notched an unearned run. Central Oklahoma responded to cut the deficit in half, 2-1, following a home run by freshman Allie Eicher. Minnesota State then cracked the game open in the third frame pushing four runs across to make the score 6-1. The stanza was highlighted by two RBI home run blast from junior Cori Kennedy. It was her second home run of the season and eighth of her career.

One inning later, Kennedy struck again for Mavericks with her second home run of the contest to push two more runs across and increase the advantage to 8-1.  After a scoreless fifth frame, Kennedy continued to swing a hot bat blasting her third home run of the game to send sophomore Carly Esselman home and stretch the lead to 10-1. The Bronchos tacked on one run the bottom of the sixth, 10-2, but could not rally as the Mavericks went on to snap their two game losing skid.

Kennedy fueled Minnesota State with a career-best six RBI, three runs, and a career-high three home runs. Senior Jessica Meidl also chipped in three hits with one run, while Bastian added two hits and one RBI to round out the top performers.

In game two, Minnesota State edged Emporia State (10-17), 5-4. Sophomore Caitlin Stone (6-1) earned the win allowing five hits in 3.0 innings of work. Ward picked up the save with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings of action. Freshman Destiny Ojigoh (3-3) takes the loss for the Hornets with one strikeout in 4.0 innings.

Emporia State notched two quick runs in the opening frame to take the lead, 2-0. Minnesota State answered in the second frame with a pair of unearned runs from Kennedy and Forshee to lock the contest, 2-2. Later in the inning, the Mavericks snatched their first lead of the game, 3-2, after sophomore Kennedy Rieck registered an unearned run. Minnesota State then stretched its edge to 4-2 after Meidl connected on a crucial RBI double to left center in the third frame.

Emporia State battled back in the fourth cutting the Minnesota State edge down to one, 4-3, after a redshirt freshman Gabby Biondo score. Meidl answered for the Mavericks with her second double of the game sending freshman Courtney Potter home, 5-3, in the fifth inning. The Hornets made one final push adding a run in the bottom of the fifth, 5-4, but the Maverick defense held strong over the final two innings to preserve the win.

Kennedy paced Minnesota State with two hits and two runs, while Meidl contributed two hits and two RBI. Both teams registered nine hits each.

Minnesota State finishes its road trip against Northeastern State tomorrow. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.