Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. --- The Minnesota state softball team finished its Florida trip with a split Thursday as it fell to #14 Grand Valley State 5-4, before defeating Ashland 6-5.

With the split, MSU now owns a 12-6 record on the season. GVSU improved to 10-2 on the season, while AU fell to 7-5.

Minnesota State began the day with a 5-4 loss to Grand Valley State. Sophomore Mackenzie Ward (5-6) took the loss as she gave up five runs, three earned, in four innings. Sophomore Lexi Schoper threw three innings in relief where she allowed three hits, while striking out three. Allison Lipovsky (6-0) earned the win as she gave up four runs, three earned, while striking out nine in the complete game effort.

After four innings, GVSU held a 5-0 lead. Lydia Gobel notched a solo home run in the top of the first, before posting a two-run home run in the second inning to put the Lakers up 3-0. Taylor Rieger drove in two more runs in the top of the fourth to put Grand Valley State up 5-0.

After being limited to four hits and no runs through the first four innings, MSU rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap to 5-3. Freshman Haylee Bridges tallied a one-out single, before junior Caitlin Stone came on to pinch run. A double by sophomore Courtney Potter placed runners on second and third, before a wild pitch allowed both runners to move up. 

Senior McKenzie Paap then reached third via an error by the left fielder, which also plated Potter, to cut the Laker lead to 5-2. Junior Carly Esselman then drove in Paap with a ground out to second before Grand Valley Could get out of the inning.

Both teams went down in order in the sixth inning, but in the top of the seventh the Lakers managed to get two runners on with one out. Schoper then struck out Shannon Flaherty, before getting Kelcie LaTour to fly out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the seventh freshman Kayla Moky led off the inning with a single and advanced to second via a wild pitch. With one out, Potter drove in Moky with an RBI double down the left field line to bring the Mavericks within one of the Lakers at 5-4. Paap then recorded a bunt single and stole second to place runners on second and third. Lipovsky was able to hold off the Mavericks as she struck out Esselman and forced senior Cori Kennedy to ground out to second to secure the win of GVSU.

Esselman and Potter each tallied a pair of hits.

Minnesota State bounced back with a 6-5 win over the Ashland Eagles. Schoper (2-0) earned the win in relief as she held the Eagles hitless in the final two innings. Laney Jones (2-2) took the loss as she gave up six runs on 14 hits, in 6.1 innings.

After three innings, both teams were tied 4-4 as they combined for 15 hits. AU's Dayna Denver and MSU's Emma Schifferle each posted an RBI single in the first inning. The Eagles then went up 3-1 after scoring two runs in the top of the second, but the Mavericks answered right away in the bottom of the second as an RBI walk to Esselman and a two-run single from Kennedy put the Mavericks up 4-3. An RBI double by Erika Farst in the top of the third knotted up the score at 4-4.

Ashland broke the 4-4 tie in the top of the fifth as the Eagles led off with a pair of singles, before Kylie Asmus doubled in a run to put Ashland up 5-4. After leaving a pair of runners on base in the fifth, MSU managed to pull even with Ashland in the bottom of the sixth. With one out Esselman walked and moved up to second after a single by Kennedy. AU managed to get the second out, but a single up the middle by sophomore Torey Richards plated Esselman as the game went into the seventh tied 5-5.

After the Eagles went down in order in the top of the seventh, Moky led off the inning with a single. She then moved over to second after a sacrifice bunt, before stealing third. Potter then drove in Moky with an RBI single to secure the 6-5 win for the Mavericks.

Five Mavericks posted two hits against the Eagles, including Kennedy who drove in two runs, and Moky who scored twice.

The Mavericks return to action on Friday, March 22, as they travel to St. Joseph, Mo., to take part in the Hy-Vee Softball Classic. MSU will face Missouri Southern State at 12:00 p.m., before finishing the day against Augustana at 4:00 p.m.

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