Clermont, Fla. --- Minnesota State picked up a pair of wins on day one of the Spring Games played in Clermont, Fla., Saturday afternoon.  In game one the MSU defeated Indianapolis University 8-0 (6) as Mackenzie Ward pitched a no-hitter, followed by a 5-4 win over the Northwood Timberwolves. 

With the results, the Mavericks improve to 9-3 on the season while the Greyhounds fall to 8-4 and the Timberwolves fall to 6-3.

Game 1

Ward (6-2) started the game for the Mavericks and earned the six-inning no-hitter while striking out 10 batters. The no-hitter is the second that Ward has thrown in her career with Minnesota State.  Hallie Waters (5-2) started for the Greyhounds and took the loss pitching three innings and allowing three runs, two of them earned.

The Mavericks wasted no time putting a run on the board when Torey Richards hit a double that brought Sydney Nielsen home. In the fourth inning, Minnesota State added three more runs to take a 4-0 lead, scoring on a sac fly, a hard hit out shortstop and a single that brought home a runner from third.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Mavericks finalized the scoring when they added four runs, two on a double from Carly Esselman, and two more on a homer from Nielson.  After shutting down the Greyhounds in the bottom of the sixth, the game was decided by the 8-run rule.

Esselman went 3-4 from the plate with three RBI while Richards went 2-4 with an RBI.  Hannah McCarville went 1-1 from the plate while drawing a pair of walks.

Game 2

McKayla Armbruster (1-0) started the game for Minnesota State and pitched three and two thirds innings allowing four runs, three of them earned, on five hits while striking out three batters.  Katie Bracken (2-1) pitched one and a third innings of relief, earning the win while only allowing two hits. 

April Bennet (1-0) started for the Timberwolves but did not factor in the loss, allowing four runs in two and a third innings. Riley Shagena and took the loss, pitching three and a third innings of relief while allowing one run on five hits.

The Timberwolves put a run on the board first when they cashed in a run from third on a sac fly.  The Mavericks responded in the bottom of the third inning when Richards hit a single through the left side that scored Esselman.  With runners on second and third, McCarville hit a single up the middle that brought in two more runs, giving MSU a 3-1 lead.  With two out, Hannah Hastings tacked on another run with a hard-hit double to center field.

Northwood managed to tie the game in the top of the fourth inning with a string of hits capped off by a double.  The difference making run came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kayla Moky beat out a single to the shortstop which brought Emma Schifferle home from third, giving the Mavericks the 5-4 lead which they held on to for the win.

Esselman led the offense batting 3-4 from the plate with a run scored while Schifferle went 2-3 on the day.  Hastings went 2-2 from the plate while McCarville finished 1-3 with two RBI.

Minnesota State will return to action tomorrow afternoon when it will face off with the Edinboro Fighting Scots with first pitch scheduled at 1:15, before taking on the Ferris State Bulldogs at 4:00 p.m.