Emporia, Kan. --- Minnesota State defeated the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats 8-0 (6) in six innings and lost 4-3 (8) in the eighth to the Emporia State Hornets in the final day of the Emporia State Softball Classic.

With the results, the Mavericks move to 7-3 on the season while the Bearcats fall to 3-11 and the Hornets improve to 8-5.

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (4-1) started the game for Minnesota State and pitched four innings allowing zero runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Katie Bracken pitched the final two innings allowing zero runs on two hits.  Breck Dickey (1-7) started for the Bearcats and took the loss, pitching one inning while allowing two runs on three hits.

The Mavericks got the scoring started in the first inning with a solo homerun from leadoff hitter Carly Esselman, her second of the season, while cashing in another run on an error to take a 2-0 lead.  The Bearcats threatened in the top of the fourth inning with bases loaded and one out, but Ward was able to strike out a batter and force a groundout to second to get out the jam. 

Minnesota State added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Esselman drilled a single up the center to bring Courtney Potter home before Hailey Forshee mashed a double to center field which brought home Esselman and Kayla Moky. 

In the sixth inning Madi Newman drove home a pair of insurance runs with a double to center field.  Later in the inning, Emma Schifferle hit a single to right field which scored Potter to give the
Mavericks an 8-0 lead which also secured a run rule in the sixth inning.

Esselman finished the game 2-3 from the plate with three runs scored and two RBI while Newman also went 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.  Richards went 2-3 from the plate with a run scored while Schifferly went 2-4 with the walk off RBI. 


Game 2
Ward (4-2) started the game for Minnesota State and pitched seven and a third innings, allowing four runs, two of them earned, on four hits, taking the loss.  Kerrigan Dixon (2-7) started for the Hornets and earned the win allowing three runs on 11 hits.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Hornets got on the board first with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning.  The Mavericks got a run back in the top of the fourth inning when Richards hit a single into right field to score Schifferle.

Minnesota State tied the game in the top of the fifth when Forshee brought Moky home with a single to left.  Neither team proved able to bring a run across during regulation, sending to the game to extra innings under international rules which place a runner at second to start the inning.

In the top of the eighth inning, Hannah McCarville hit a single down the third base line that scored Forshee, giving the Mavericks a 3-2 edge.  The Hornets responded in a big way in the bottom of the inning when they hit a two-run walk of homer to take the 4-3 win.

Richards finished the game 3-4 at the plate with an RBI while Forshee finished 2-4 from the plate with an RBI and a run scored.

Minnesota State will return to action Saturday, March 7, as it will take part in the NTC Spring games which are 10 games over the course of six days.