ST. PAUL, Minn. --- The No. 13 Minnesota State softball team opened up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play sweeping Concordia-St. Paul, 9-7, and, 10-4, Wednesday afternoon at the Northwestern University softball field.

In game one, Minnesota State (21-5, 2-0 NSIC) squeaked by Concordia-St. Paul (15-9, 0-2 NSIC), 9-7, in eight innings. Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Ward (9-3) earns the win for the Mavericks tossing four strikeouts in a complete game. Sophomore Kali Kaestner (6-4) takes the loss for the Golden Bears with one strikeout over 2.1 innings.

Concordia-St. Paul jumped out to a quick 3-0 edge in the bottom half of the opening frame. Minnesota State responded with a three-run third inning to lock the contest, 3-3. The frame was highlighted by a two RBI double from senior Jessica Meidl. The Golden Bears battled back to reclaim the edge notching two runs in the fourth to make the score 5-3.

Following a scoreless fifth inning, Minnesota State locked the game, 5-5, after freshman Rae Dose was able to get home. One inning later, the Mavericks took their first lead of day, 6-5, following an unearned run by sophomore Carly Esselman. The Golden Bears retaliated to tie the game in the bottom half of the seventh inning, 6-6, to force extra innings.

In the extra frame, Meidl unleashed a clutch three RBI home run to score junior McKenzie Paap and Dose to make the score 9-6. It was her second home run of the season and 18th of her career.  The Golden Bears attempted to come back cutting the deficit down to two, 9-7, but the Minnesota State defense held off the late surge to preserve the win.

Meidl paced Minnesota State with six RBI, four hits, and two runs. The Mavericks posted 12 hits as a team in comparison to the Golden Bears 11.

In game two, Minnesota State rolled past Concordia-St. Paul, 10-4. Sophomore pitcher Caitlin Stone (7-1) earned the win allowing six hits in 6.2 innings of work. Sophomore Bria Majeski started the game and notched one strikeout. Sophomore Samantha Sullivan (3-1) takes the loss for the Golden Bears with one strikeout in 2.0 innings of action.

Minnesota State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard after Esselman launched a three RBI home run to make the score 3-0 in the first inning. It was her third long ball of the season. Concordia-St. Paul responded with three runs of its own to make the score 3-3 after one complete. Sophomore Kennedy Rieck stole the lead back for the Mavericks with her first career home run, 4-3, in the second frame. The Golden Bears once again locked the contest in the bottom half, 4-4, following a sophomore Lily Langevin run.

Minnesota State began to pull away in the third frame after sophomore Amber Kral blasted her team-leading sixth home run of the season to score Esselman and make the score 6-4. Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Mavericks tacked on three runs in the fifth frame to push their lead up to five, 9-4. Freshman Hailey Forshee put the game out of reach with her first career home run in the seventh inning, 10-4.

Esselman fueled Minnesota State with three runs, three RBI, and two hits. Kral also chipped in two hits, two RBI and one run. The Mavericks tallied 11 hits as a team in comparison to the Golden Bears 10.

Due to forecasted weather, Minnesota State will now face Wayne State tomorrow in Wayne, Neb. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. The Mavericks will then wrap up the road trip at Augustana on Friday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.