Russellvill, Ark. --- Minnesota State split a pair of games Saturday, defeating Northwest Missouri State 8-7 on a walk-off, before falling to Washburn 6-3.

With the split, MSU moves to 4-2 on the season. With the loss, Northwest Missouri State falls to 1-3 on the season, while Washburn improves to 4-8.

MSU began the day with its 8-7 win over Northwest Missouri State. Sophomore Hailey Forshee (1-0) picked up the win in relief as she allowed one earned run in four innings. Sophomore Julia Bastian started the game and threw three innings, allowing six runs, three of them earned, and striking out two, but did not factor in the decision.

The Bearcats jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the first when they laced a two-run homer to center field, but the Mavericks responded when Carly Esselman doubled to center, scoring McKenzie Paap, and Cori Kennedy singled Esselman home.

The long ball continued to drive the Bearcat offense, as a pair of third inning homers gave them a 6-2 lead.  In the bottom of the third Amber Kral singled home Emma Schifferle to narrow the margin.

The top of the sixth inning saw Northwest Missouri State again extend their lead with another run that Minnesota State matched.  In the bottom of the seventh, down 7-4, the Mavericks rallied back, scoring first on a double to left center from Shifferle, before Kennedy Rieck scored Schifferle on a sac fly.  Down by one run, with one out, Paap took advantage of an errant throw from the shortstop which scored Courtney Potter and Kayla Moky, to earn Minnesota State the walk off win.

Senior Kennedy went 3-of-4 at the plate, including a run batted in, while sophomore Schifferle recorded two hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Along with her two hits, Schifferle also drove in two runs and scored two runs. Senior Paap tallied two hits, including a triple, to go along with a stolen base.

Minnesota State finished its day with a 6-3 loss to the Washburn Ichabods. Mackenzie Ward (2-2) took the loss in the game, while Bailey Zuniga (1-1) earned the win in relief. Ward allowed six runs in six innings, while striking out seven. Zuniga held the Mavericks hitless in two innings.

The Mavericks struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning when Richards hit Paap home with a single, then Kennedy doubled Richards home, before Hannah Hastings reached on an error, sending Kennedy home.

The Ichabods got a run back in the fifth, and in the sixth inning rallied to score five runs on a string of hits, taking the 6-3 lead they would ultimately win with after the Mavericks couldn't muster another late rally. 

Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow with first pitch against Arkansas Tech scheduled for 10:15 a.m., before taking on Central Missouri at 2:45 p.m.