Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team opened its 2021 season with a pair of wins over the Lewis University Flyers, 2-0 and 6-0, on day one of the Minnesota State DII Softball Classic.

With the results, the Mavericks move to 2-0 on the season while the Flyers fall to 0-2 to start the year. 

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (1-0) started the game for the Mavericks and pitched a complete game one-hit shutout. She fanned 13 batters in the game while walking two.

The Mavericks struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning when Hannah Hastings beat out a single to the right side of the infield that brought Sydney Nielsen home from third.

Nielsen once again capitalized, this time with a hard-hit single to center that brought Kylie Sullivan home from second base to extend the Maverick lead to 2-0.

The pitching and defense held on for the Mavericks as they completed the one hit shutout to win 2-0 without committing an error.

Nielson finished the game with two hits on three at bats with a run batted in and a run scored. Hastings finished the game 1-3 with an RBI while Sullivan finished 1-1 with a run scored and a walk.

Game 2

McKayla Armbruster (1-0) started for the Mavericks and earned the win pitching six innings of scoreless softball. She allowed two hits and one walk with five strikeouts in the game before being relieved by Katie Bracken who pitched the final inning striking out a batter and not allowing a hit.

Minnesota State wasted little time getting on the scoreboard when in the second Hannah McCarville attempted a sac bunt and the Flyers catcher overthrew first base allowing Hailey Forshee to score. During the next at bat, McCarville began to steal second which initiated a double steal that scored Sydney Nelson from third.

The Mavericks added two more runs on an infield fly and a passed ball before Torey Richardss drilled a double left center which scored Carly Esselman from first to give Minnesota State a 5-0 lead.

McCarville wrapped up the scoring for the day when she hit a slow roller to third for a fielder's choice that brought Forshee home.

Richards finished the game 3-4 from the plate with an RBI while Nelson finished 2-3 with a run scored. Forshee went 1-2 from the plate with a walk and scored two runs in the game.

Up Next

The Mavericks return to action tomorrow with a pair of nonconference games against Minnesota Duluth with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the second game to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.