Minot, ND. --- Minnesota State continued conference play with a pair of wins against Minot State Sunday afternoon.
With the results, the Mavericks move to 18-10 on the season and 3-3 in conference play the Beavers move to 15-9, 3-3 in the NSIC
Game 1
Mackenzie Ward (9-7) started the game and earned the win pitching the complete seven innings, striking out seven batters and allowing seven runs, four of them earned. Laura Mendez (6-5) started for the Beavers and took the loss allowing eight runs and 12 hits in six innings of work.
Minnesota State wasted no time getting into the scoring column when
Cori Kennedy hit a single through the center that scored
Courtney Potter from second base. Minot State responded with a sac fly in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one.
In the second inning the Maverick offense continued to click when
McKenzie Paap drilled a single up the center that scored
Hannah Hastings and a couple of pitches later a wild pitch scored
Torey Richards. Once again though, the Beavers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, keeping the game even at 3-3.
Minnesota State once again took the lead 4-3 in the third before Minot State responded with four runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-4 lead. In the sixth inning the Mavericks once again rallied, scoring
Paap from first on a double followed by a two-run homer from
Amber Kral to tie the game.
After holding the Beavers scoreless in the sixth, the Mavericks once again took the lead as
Potter drilled a double to left field scoring
Julia Bastian, followed by a two-run homer from
Emma Schifferle. Minnesota State kept Minot State off the bases in the seventh and held on for the 10-7 win.
Hastings went 3-5 on the day with two runs scored while
Potter finished the day 2-4 with three runs and two runs batted in.
Game 2
Caitlin Stone (2-1) started the game for Minnesota State but did not factor in the decision, pitching 1.2 innings before
Lexi Schoper (3-0) come on in relief, pitching 4.1 and earning the win.
Ward pitched the final inning striking out two and allowing one hit.
The offense continued to roll in the second game as a
Paap walk and advance on a fielder's choice, was cashed in by a
Kral single to right field. The Beavers responded, scoring seven runs over the first two innings and seeming to take control of the game.
Minnesota State continued to chip away at the lead scoring a run in the second and fourth inning before erupting for five runs in the fifth and taking an 8-7 lead.
Schifferle started off the sixth inning with a solo homer to dead center and in the seventh the Mavericks added two more to come away with a 12-7 win.
Schifferle finished the day 3-5 at the plate with three RBI, a homerun, and a double.
Kral also went 3-5 adding two RBI and a run.
Minnesota State will return home for a doubleheader with Winona State scheduled for Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. before a pair of weekend doubleheaders with Augustana and Wayne State Saturday and Sunday.
