MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team picked up its second straight sweep after cruising past Minot State (11-3, 9-1) on senior day at the MSU Softball Diamond on Saturday afternoon.

In game one, the Mavericks (32-14, 13-9 NSIC), who were recently ranked sixth in the latest NCAA Central Region poll, topped the Beavers (23-22, 10-14 NSIC), 11-3, in six innings. Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Ward (17-7) got the start and totaled a game-high five strikeouts in 5.0 inning of action. Sophomore Caitlin Stone finished the contest for the Mavericks and posted one strikeout. Junior Laura Mendez (12-13) pitched a complete game for Minot State.

Minot State opened the scoring with two runs in the opening frame to make the score 2-0. Minnesota State responded in the bottom half posting six runs on seven hits to steal the lead, 6-2. The frame was highlighted by sophomore Kennedy Rieck's second home run of the season to left field. The three RBI shot sent freshman Julia Bastian and Torey Richards across. 
  
Minnesota State continued to apply pressure into the second inning after Bastian got a two RBI double to drop in center field. The hit sent Richards and freshman Hailey Forshee across to increase the Mavericks edge to 9-2. The Beavers attempted to rally in the third frame after sophomore Julia Suchan connected on a RBI single up the middle to make the score 9-3. However, Minnesota State tacked on insurance runs in the third and sixth innings including freshman Hannah McCarville delivering her third home run of the season to put the game out of reach, 11-3.

Junior McKenzie Paap posted a game-high three hits with one hit and one RBI. Senior Jessica Meidl added a game-best two stolen bases with two runs, two hits and two RBI. Minnesota State posted 14 hits as team in comparison to Minot State's six.

In game two, Minnesota State posted eight runs in the first two innings to roll past Minot State, 9-1, in five innings. Ward got the start for Minnesota State in the circle and registered two strikeouts. Freshman Lexi Schoper finished the final inning for the Mavericks and allowed zero hits. Junior Kylie Patrick (11-9) picks up the loss for the Beavers allowing 11 hits in 2.0 innings.

Minot State jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the opening frame with a junior Lauren Cuchan score. Minnesota State answered with a three run bottom half to steal the edge, 3-1. The Mavericks captured their first lead of the contest following a Forshee fly out to score Meidl.

The Minnesota State offense took control of the game in the second inning sending five runs across to increase its lead to 8-1. Meidl sent a three RBI homer over the center field fence to highlight the inning. The shot was her sixth of the season and scored Paap and sophomoreCarly Esselman. Bastian capped the inning with a two RBI double to center field. Rieck sealed the game for Minnesota State in the fifth frame using a sacrifice bunt to score Bastian and stretch the edge to 9-1.

Bastian fueled the Mavericks with a game-best three hits including a single, double and triple. The infielder also added two RBI and one run to her stat line. McCarville and Meidl also contributed two hits, while Paap pushed her hit streak up to 16 games with two hits of her own.  Minnesota State notched 12 hits as a team in comparison to Minot State's four.

Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow hosting U-Mary at the MSU Softball Diamond. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.