Russellville, Ark. --- Minnesota State dropped a pair of games Sunday, falling to Arkansas Tech 14-4 in five innings, before coming up short against Central Missouri 2-0.
With the losses, MSU moves to 4-4 on the season. With the win, Arkansas Tech improves to 6-5 on the season, while Central Missouri moves to 2-1.
MSU began the day with a 14-4 loss to Arkansas Tech. Sophomore
Mackenzie Ward (2-3) took the loss, allowing nine runs, four of them earned, in three innings. Senior Megan Goodnight (3-0) started for Arkansas Tech, allowing five hits and four runs in 4.1 innings, and earning the win.
The Golden Suns were able to get on the board early and often, recording six runs in the second inning before adding five more in the fourth.
The Mavericks found success in the top of the fifth when
Emma Schifferle doubled to left field scoring
Cori Kennedy.
Amber Kral then launched a single to center which scored
Torey Richards before
Courtney Potter reached on a fielder's choice to score
Shifferle, cutting the lead to 11-4.
In the bottom of the fifth the Golden Suns responded with a three-run homer to run rule the Mavericks, and win the game 14-4
Senior
Kennedy went 2-of-3 at the plate, including a run scored, while sophomore
Schifferle recorded two hits, including a double, two runs batted in.
Minnesota State finished its day with a 2-0 loss to the Central Missouri Jennies.
Ward (2-4) took the loss in the game, while Alexa Bradley (1-0) earned the win. Ward allowed two runs and five hits in six innings of work while striking out three.
Pitching and defense dominated the first four innings, but it was the Jennies who managed to get on the board first, putting two runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Mavericks threatened in the seventh inning, when
McKenzie Paap singled then stole second before
Kayla Moky was walked.
Carly Esselman, with runners on first and second with two out grounded out to first base to give the Jennies the win.
Paap went 2-3 at the plate and recorded the stolen base that put Minnesota State in scoring position in the seventh.
Minnesota State will take next weekend off before traveling to Clermont, Fla. for the NTC Spring games, a series of ten games over the course of six days.
