CLERMONT, Fla. --- Seven proved to be the magic number for the Minnesota State softball team Wednesday as it defeated Mercyhurst 7-2 and Southern Indiana 7-4 to extend its winning streak to seven games.

MSU now owns an 11-5 record on the season, while Mercyhurst and Southern Indiana drop to 2-12 and 8-8, respectively.

Minnesota State began the day with a 7-2 win over the Mercyhurst Lakers. Sophomore Julia Bastian (4-0) picked up the win for the Mavericks as she allowed six hits and two unearned runs in four innings of work. Junior Caitlin Stone allowed just one hit in two innings of relief, while sophomore Lexi Schoper set the Lakers down in order in the seventh. Tori Pierucci (2-5) took the loss as she gave up four runs, on six hits, in five innings.

MSU got on the board right away in the top of the first as sophomore Emma Schifferle drove in senior McKenzie Paap and junior Carly Esselman with an RBI single to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead. In the second, Paap and Esselman would each drive in a run via a ground out to put MSU up 4-0.

The Lakers responded in the bottom half of the second inning as they loaded the bases with two outs. Taylor Fry then drove in a pair of runs with an RBI single to cut the Maverick lead to 4-2 before MSU got out of the inning.

The next three innings saw both teams strand three runners each on base as MSU held its 4-2 lead. In the top of the sixth, Mercyhurst replaced Pierucci in the circle with Laura Gregory, who then gave up three runs on three hits as MSU went up 7-2. Sophomore Courtney Potter notched an RBI triple, while senior Cori Kennedy drove in two runs with an RBI single of her own.

Stone and Schoper set the Lakers down in order in the final two innings as Minnesota State claimed the 7-2 win. Paap recorded three hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases, while freshman Kayla Moky tallied two runs, two hits and a stolen base of her own.

MSU finished its day with a 7-4 win over the Southern Indiana Eagles, who just last season won the NCAA Championship. Sophomore Mackenzie Ward (5-5) picked up the win as she allowed four runs, on seven hits, while striking out nine. Caitlyn Bradley (2-3) took the loss as she allowed five runs and nine hits in 5.2 innings of work.

The first two innings saw MSU and USI combine for one hit as Ward struck out three batters, while Bradley fanned two. After Ward set the side down in order again in the top of the third, the Maverick offense finally broke through in the bottom of the frame. Potter led off the inning with a walk, before advancing to second on a single by Paap. Esselman then stepped up to the plate and blasted a three-run home run down the right field line to put the Mavericks up 3-0. 

MSU carried its 3-0 lead into the top of the fifth, but the Eagles were finally able to get on the board. A hit batter and a fielder's choice put runners on first and second with one out. Ward managed to get a fly out to for the second out, but Claire Johnson stepped up and hit a two-run triple to left field to cut the Maverick lead to 3-2. Ward escaped further damage as the next batter fouled out to end the inning.

As the game moved into the bottom of the sixth, the Mavericks still held a 3-2 lead. After a strikeout to lead off the inning, the next seven Maverick batters recorded a hit as MSU increased its lead to 7-2. Junior Amber Kral and Potter each drove in a run with a single, while Esselman drove in two runs with a single of her own.  

USI managed to get two runs back in the top of the seventh with one out, but Ward would go on to get the final two outs via strikeouts to end the game 7-2 in favor of Minnesota State.

Esselman led the way with two hits and four runs batted in, while Paap and Potter each scored two runs. Paap, Bastian, Potter and freshman Hannah Hastings each recorded two hits as well. 

Minnesota State wraps up its Florida trip on Thursday as it takes on Grand Valley State at 8:00 a.m. (CST) and Ashland at 10:30 a.m. (CST)


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