Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team wrapped up its early home games with a split against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, a 5-2 loss and 4-3 walk-off win, on the final day of the Minnesota State DII Softball Classic.

With the results, the Mavericks move to 3-1 on the season while the Bulldogs are now to 2-2 to start the year. 

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (1-1) started the game for the Mavericks and pitched six innings in the loss, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out 14 batters. McKayla Armbruster pitched a scoreless inning of relief for Minnesota State allowing one hit while striking out one batter.

After four and a half innings of scoreless softball, the Mavericks struck first when Torey Richards smashed a triple to right center field that scored Carly Esselman. The Bulldogs would respond however, when in the sixth they cashed in on a two-run homer to take a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Minnesota Duluth strung together several hits and managed to extend its lead to 5-1. With two out in the bottom of the seventh, Katie Bracken hit a single down the right field line and had Sydney Nelson pinch run for her. Nelson advanced to second on a wild pitch and was hit home by Hannah McCarville to cut the Bulldog lead to 5-2. The Maverick rally would fall short though after a flyout to end the game.

McCarville finished the game going 2-3 from the plate with an RBI and Richards finished going 1-3 with an RBI as well.

Game 2

Katie Bracken (1-0) started for the Mavericks but did not earn a decision pitching six innings. She allowed six hits and three runs while striking out a pair of batters. Ward (2-1) pitched an inning of relief and picked up the win.

The Bulldogs struck first in the second game when a hard hit double brought home a runner from second in the top of the first inning. The Mavericks responded in the bottom of the first when Richards continued her hot hitting with a two-out double followed by a Hannah Hastings single which brought Richards home to tie the game.

In the top of the fourth, Minnesota Duluth cashed in a pair of runs on a double to right center field which gave them a 3-1 lead. Minnesota State responded in the bottom of the fifth when freshman Kylie Sullivan blasted a solo homerun, the first of her career, over the right center field fence to cut the Bulldog lead to 3-2.

With the Mavericks down by one in the seventh with one out, Sullivan fought back from an 0-2 count to draw back to 2-2 before she belted a triple down the right field line. Down to the final out, Esselman hit a double into left center field to tie the game at 3-3.

Sydney Nielsen then snuck a single passed the infield defenders that brought Esselman home for the walk-off 4-3 win.

Richards, Hastings and Sullivan all finished the game 2-3 from the plate.

Up Next

The Mavericks return to action March 5^th as they travel to Emporia, Kan., for the Emporia Softball Classic. Over the course of three days they are scheduled to play five games at the event.