Photo credit: photos.paap.net

ST. CLOUD, Minn. --- The No. 20 Minnesota State softball team swept St. Cloud State, 9-5, and, 12-4, Friday afternoon at the Husky Dome.

In game one, Minnesota State (24-8, 5-3 NSIC) used an eight-run fourth inning to down St. Cloud State (20-11, 6-4 NSIC), 9-5. Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Ward (10-4) earned the win for the Mavericks with five strikeouts in a complete game. Freshman Kylie Thomsen (11-4) picks up the loss for the Huskies allowing eight hits in 3.1 innings of work.

The Huskies jumped out to a 3-0 advantage with one run in the first and two in the second frame. St. Cloud State expanded its lead up to 4-0 after freshman Anna Roth got home to make the score 4-0. The Minnesota State offense then came alive with an eight-run fourth inning to capture the edge, 8-4. The frame was highlighted by a grand slam home run from sophomore Amber Kral. It was her team-leading seventh home run of the season and 21st of her career. Freshman Hailey Forshee also chipped in her second home run of the season during the fourth inning surge.

Minnesota State tacked on an insurance run in the fifth inning with a score from Forshee. The Huskies attempted to rally in the sixth frame pushing one across and loading up the bases, but Ward worked out of the jam to preserve the win.

Freshman Hannah McCarville set the standard for Minnesota State with a game-high three hits and one RBI. Kral also contributed two hits and a game-best four RBI. The Mavericks totaled 12 hits as team in comparison to the Huskies nine.

In game two, Minnesota State registered runs in five of the games six innings to top St. Cloud State, 12-4. Freshman Lexi Schoper (2-2) earned the win with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings for the Mavericks. Sophomore Caitlin Stone started the contest with one strikeout in 1.1 innings pitched. Ward came in to close the game for Minnesota State with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Junior Kate Kopeck (9-6) takes the loss with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings of action.

Sophomore Carly Esselman got things started for the Mavericks with a RBI single in the first frame to give the Mavericks their first lead of day, 1-0. St. Cloud State answered in the second inning getting two runs across to steal the edge, 2-1. Minnesota State captured the lead, 3-2, in the bottom half of the second frame after McCarville and freshman Julia Bastian added a run.  

The Mavericks then increased their advantage in the third inning with scores from freshman Torey Richards and Esselman to make the score 6-2. The Huskies responded with a run in both the fourth and fifth frames to pull within two, 6-4.

Minnesota State put the game out reach tallying six runs over the fifth and sixth innings. Sophomore Kennedy Rieck connected on a single which drove home freshman Courtney Potter to seal the win, 12-4, in six innings.

McCarville led Minnesota State with three hits, three RBI and two runs. Paap also notched three hits with one run and one RBI. The Mavericks posted 14 hits as a team, while the Huskies notched seven.

Minnesota State returns to action on Sunday against Minnesota Duluth at the Husky Dome. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.