Emporia, Kan. --- Minnesota State won a pair of games Friday, defeating Pittsburg State 2-0 before coming back to beat to Emporia State 2-1, on the second day of the Emporia State Softball Classic.
With the wins, the Mavericks move to 15-7 on the season with one game to play in the Emporia State Softball Classic.
MSU began the day with a 2-0 win over Pittsburg State (15-15). Sophomore
Mackenzie Ward (7-6) earned the win on the day by recording her first career no-hitter for the Mavericks while striking out 14 batters.
The Mavericks got on the board in the first inning when
Cori Kennedy hit a single up the center to score
McKenzie Paap. In the fifth inning,
Courtney Potter advanced
Torey Richards to home on a groundout to the shortstop to conclude the scoring on the day.
The Gorillas only managed four baserunners on the day, three from walks and the fourth on a fielding error.
Potter and
Kennedy each finished the day 1-3 with an RBI to lead the offense for the Mavericks.
Minnesota State finished its day with a come from behind 2-1 win over the host Emporia State Hornets (8-16).
Caitlin Stone (1-0) started the game for Minnesota State and earned the win in five innings of work allowing one run on three hits while striking out five batters.
Ward, fresh off her no hitter earlier in the day, came into the game for the final two innings and allowed one hit while striking out three batters to collect the save.
The Hornets wasted no time when Hanna Steeby homered to dead center field giving Emporia State the early lead, and the Mavericks struggled to get into scoring position throughout the game.
In the sixth inning that changed as
Paap scored from second when
Carly Esselman scorched a double to right center field. After an out,
Hannah Hastings was able to reach on a fielding error by the shortstop that brought
Esselman home to give Minnesota State a 2-1 lead which they would hold onto for the win.
Esselman led the way on offense batting 1-2 with a walk to go along with a run and an RBI double.
Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow for their final game in the Emporia State Softball Classic. The Mavericks will play Washburn at 10:00 a.m. to wrap up the weekend.