Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State continued conference play with a pair of wins, 13-0 and 11-4, against Bemidji State Saturday afternoon in Mankato, Minn., extending the teams current win streak to seven games.
With the results, the Mavericks move to 29-17 on the season and 14-10 in conference play while the Beavers move to 22-26, 5-19 in the NSIC.
Game 1
Mackenzie Ward (15-10) started the game for Minnesota State and earned the win with allowing one hit while striking out six batters. Stephi Dullum (9-13) started for the Beavers and took the loss pitching three innings and allowing six runs on nine hits.
The Mavericks started off the scoring in the first inning, plating two runs.
Amber Kral drove in
Kayla Moky with an RBI single and
Emma Schifferle hit
Cori Kennedy home in a fielder's choice.
Minnesota State extended its lead in the third with four more runs when
Kral hit
Moky home with a double before
Schifferle tripled, and
Courtney Potter hit a double in three straight at bats.
In the fourth the Mavericks added seven more runs thanks to a
Kral grand slam and a three-run homer from
Julia Bastian.
Kral went 3-3 from the plate with six RBI and two runs.
Moky finished the game 3-3 from the plate as well, scoring six runs while
Bastian finished the day 1-3 at the plate with three RBI and scored a run as well.
Game 2
Lexi Schoper (8-3) started the game for Minnesota State and held the Beavers to four hits in six innings of work to earn the win.
Caitlin Stone pitched an inning of relief allowing a hit and striking out a batter. Kaidron McClafferty (5-9) pitched five and two-third innings for Bemidji State
allowing 11 runs on 14 hits while striking out two, while taking the loss.
The Beavers weren't going to be shut out in game two and immediately scored in the top of the first before the Mavericks were able to respond with a pair of runs of their own, first when
Moky hit home
McKenzie Paap before stealing third and taking home on a throwing error.
In the second inning, Bemidji State scored a pair of runs but once again Minnesota State responded with three runs in the third inning to retake the lead, then added three more runs in the fourth. The Beavers would ad a run on a solo homer, but the Mavericks added three more of their own in the sixth to claim the 11-4 win.
Kral went 3-4 from the plate with three RBI and two runs.
Richards went 3-4 from the plate with an RBI.
Potter finished 2-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
Minnesota State will travel to Sioux Falls Wednesday for a doubleheader with the Cougars, first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m., before returning home Saturday for a doubleheader with Northern State at 1:00 p.m., and wrapping up the regular season with two games at home vs Minnesota State University Moorhead Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for noon.
