Photo credit: photos.paap.net

EMPORIA, Kan. --- The No. 10 Minnesota State softball team picked up its third straight win after downing Northeastern State, 6-2, Sunday afternoon at Canon Field.

Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Ward (8-3) earned the win for the Mavericks (19-5)  tossing a game-high six strikeouts in 7.0 innings of action. Freshman Gail Young (8-5) takes the loss for the RiverHawks (16-11) with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work, while freshman Sydney Balderrama also appeared for 3.1 innings.

Sophomore Amber Kral set the tone for Minnesota State blasting her fifth home run of the season over the right field wall in the first inning. The shot sent junior McKenzie Paap home to give the Mavericks a 2-0 edge. Minnesota State then cracked the game open with a three run fourth frame to make the score 5-1. Paap connected on a RBI double – her second of the season - to highlight the stanza.

The RiverHawks got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the fourth inning, 5-1, following a RBI single from sophomore Jess Schuler. One inning later, junior Cori Kennedy tacked on an insurance run with a RBI single to make the score 6-1. Northeastern State attempted to rally in the seventh frame with a home run from senior Kaleigh Hinkle to pull within four, 6-2. Minnesota State went on to earn its third straight win and is 8-3 in its last 11 games.

Kral led the Mavericks with two hits and a game-high two RBI. Paap and freshman Torey Richards also chipped in two hits each. Minnesota State totaled nine hits as team in comparison to Northeastern States six.

Minnesota State returns to action on March 27 to open up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play at Concordia-St. Paul. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.