Duluth, Minn. --- Minnesota State continued conference play with a doubleheader, a 4-0 loss and a 5-4 win, against Minnesota Duluth Monday morning in Duluth, Minn.
With the results, the Mavericks move to 23-17 on the season and 8-10 in conference play while the Bulldogs move to 22-14, 13-5 in the NSIC
Game 1
Lexi Schoper (5-3) started the game for the Mavericks and took the loss after six innings of work, only allowing five hits and four runs. Sam Pederson (12-5) started for the Bulldogs and earned the win pitching the complete seven innings while allowing five hits.
In the second inning, the Bulldogs got on the board when a passed ball advanced a runner home. In the third inning, Duluth added a pair of runs on a homer, and in the fourth inning they finalized the games scoring with a single that brought home a runner, taking the decisive 4-0 lead.
McKenzie Paap earned a hit and a stolen base in the game while
Courtney Potter collected a double on three at bats.
Game 2
Mackenzie Ward (11-11) started the game for Minnesota State and held the Bulldogs to zero runs on three hits while striking out five batters to earn the win. Breanna Swint (10-9) pitched the complete game for Southwest Minnesota State allowing one run on four hits, striking out six.
The Mavericks wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, plating five runs in the second inning. The scoring began when
Kennedy Rieck hit Cori Kennedy home with a bases loaded single, before
Julia Bastian brought the rest of the runners home with a grand slam.
In the fourth inning the Bulldogs got a run back with a single that scored a runner from second. The seventh inning proved treacherous as Minnesota Duluth drilled a two-run homer followed by a solo shot that cut the Minnesota State lead to 5-4. With two outs though, the Bulldogs rally added ended with a fly-out to left field.
Bastian led the way with the grand slam going 1-3 from the plate.
Kennedy went 2-2 with a run scored and a walk, while
Rieck went 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Minnesota State will travel to Fayette, Iowa tomorrow to take on Upper Iowa in a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.