MAGNOLIA, Ark. --- The seventh-seeded Minnesota State softball team fought off elimination bouncing sixth-seeded Washburn, 10-6, before upending third-seeded Augustana, 9-4, on Friday afternoon in the NCAA Central Region Tournament at Dawson Field.

With the wins, Minnesota State advances to the final round of the NCAA Division II Central Region 2 Tournament against second-seeded Southern Arkansas (54-9). First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. (CST)

In game one, Minnesota State (35-18) came from behind to bounce sixth-seeded Washburn (39-14), 10-6. Freshman right handed pitcher Mackenzie Ward made her 33rd start of the season for the Mavericks. Sophomore Bria Majeski (5-2) picked up the win Minnesota State and totaled two strikeouts. Junior Megan Deiter (17-4) takes the loss for the Ichabods and tossed one strikeout.

Freshman Halle England gave Washburn an early 3-0 edge in the first inning with a three RBI double to right center.  Majeski then checked in for Ward in the circle to finish the frame and hold off two more Ichabod base runners. Senior Alyssa Carney added on one more run for Washburn in the second inning with a RBI single to right center and increased the advantage to 4-0.

Senior Jessica Meidl responded for Minnesota State with her second home run of the NCAA Central Regional over the center field fence. The shot was her team-leading ninth of the season and scored freshman Courtney Potter to cut the deficit in half, 4-2, in the third inning. Minnesota State continued to ride momentum into the fourth inning posting three runs and stealing the lead, 5-4, after junior McKenzie Paap used a sacrifice fly to center to score freshman Julia Bastian.

The Mavericks then stole momentum with a huge five run fifth inning to push the advantage up to 10-4. The frame was highlighted by a bases clearing three RBI double from Potter. It was her second double of the season and scored freshman Morgan Keim-Wolfe, sophomore Kennedy Rieck and sophomore Amber Kral. Washburn battled back with two runs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit down to four, 10-6, after three hits. However, freshman Lexi Schoper checked in for Majeski in the circle to close out the final frame and secure the win for Minnesota State.

Meidl led Minnesota State with a game-high four RBI to go along with two hits and one run. Rieck chipped in two RBI and two hits, while Potter contributed three RBI and one hit.

In game two, Minnesota State upended third-seeded Augustana (42-15), 9-4. Sophomore Caitlin Stone (9-3) made her 12th start of the season and totaled two strikeouts. Ward finished the game for the Minnesota State and also added two strikeouts. Freshman Ashley Mickschl (20-8) started the contest for Augustana and notched one strikeout.

Minnesota State struck first after freshman Hannah McCarville lined out to score Meidl, 1-0, in the opening frame. Senior Kylie Rome answered for Augustana in the bottom half with a home run over the left center wall to lock the contest, 1-1. Minnesota State regained the edge, 2-1, after Meidl connected on a sacrifice fly to left field which scored Rieck in the second inning.

Minnesota State then used a three run fifth inning to push its advantage to 5-1. The inning was started by sophomore Carly Esselman connecting on her fourth home run of the season over the right field wall. Freshman Torey Richards and Kral also notched a pair of unearned for the Mavericks in the inning. Minnesota State tacked on three insurance runs in the sixth inning to increase its lead to 8-1 after Potter connected on a RBI double to left center.

The Vikings battled back with a three run sixth inning rally in the bottom half to pull within four, 8-4. However, McCarville put the game on ice for Minnesota State with a RBI single to right center to put the game out of reach, 9-4. 

Esselman led Minnesota State with a game-best three hits to go along with two runs and one RBI. Richards, McCarville, Kral and Potter each chipped in two hits.