Bismarck, ND. --- Minnesota State continued conference play with a split against the University of Mary, Saturday afternoon in Bismarck, N.D., with a 10-1 win and 3-2 loss.
With the results, the Mavericks move to 16-10 on the season and 1-3 in conference play the Marauders move to 11-13, 2-2 in the NSIC.
Game 1
Mackenzie Ward (8-7) started the game and earned the win pitching five innings while allowing three hits and striking out six. Madison Jahner (2-5) took the loss for the Marauders allowing seven runs in three innings of work.
The Mavericks scored early and often, starting in the first inning when
Carly Esselman drove home
McKenzie Paap before
Cori Kennedy hit
Esselman home. In the Second inning
Julia Bastian singled to right field to bring
Torey Richards home to give Minnesota State a 3-0 lead.
In the third the Mavericks broke the game wide open when
Kennedy hit
Courtney Potter home and
Emma Schifferle doubled in
Kennedy.
Richards then drilled a two-run homer on the next at bat. Minnesota State would ad three more runs in the sixth inning before the Marauders got on the board with a solo homerun, but the damage was done, and the Mavericks got the 10-1 win after six innings.
Richards went 2-3 in the game with two RBI on the homerun and two runs scored.
Potter and
Paap each went 2-4 with two runs scored as well while
Paap and
Kennedy each stole a pair of bases.
Game 2
Caitlin Stone (1-2) started the game for Minnesota State and allowed three runs and five hits in four innings.
Ward came into the game in relief, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out three batters. Brieann Backes (8-4) started the game for the University of Mary and went the distance, allowing seven hits and a pair of runs to earn the win.
The Marauders started the scoring in the second inning with a solo homer, but the Mavericks responded in the top of the third when
Potter drove in a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. In the fourth inning however, the University of Mary went long once more, this time for a pair of runs to reclaim the lead, a lead they would retain for the remainder of the game.
Potter went 2-4 in the game and recorded the two RBI leading the offense Minnesota State.
Minnesota State will remain in North Dakota for a doubleheader with Minot State Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for noon.
