Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 St. Joseph, Mo. --- The Minnesota State softball team won both games on day one of the Hy-Vee Softball Classic in St. Joseph, Mo., a 2-1 win over the Missouri Western State and a 4-0 win over Missouri Southern.

With the results, the Mavericks improve to 9-2 on the season while the Griffons drop to 11-5 and the Lions fall to 7-6.

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (5-2) started the game for the Mavericks and earned the win pitching a complete game seven innings while striking out 13 and allowing only a single run on four hits. Sydney Rader (5-2) started for the Griffons and took the loss despite only allowing six hits and two unearned runs.

Minnesota State was the first team to score when in the top of the second inning Kylie Sullivan singled into center as Hailey Forshee was able to successfully make it home from first after the Griffons had difficulty getting the ball back into the infield.

In the third inning, the Griffons were able to string together a couple of hits and scored their lone run on a single up the middle.

Sydney Nielsen capped off the scoring with a single up the middle in the fifth inning that scored Carly Esselman from second base and putting the Mavericks up 2-1.

The key moment in the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Griffons had runners on third and second with one out. The batter for Missouri Western State bunted the ball in play back to Ward who was able to hold the runner at third for a moment before throwing to first base for the force out. As soon as Ward released the ball to first the runner at third broke for home but Forshee was able to perfectly place the throw to Hannah Hastings at home plate where she applied the tag to end the threat capping off the 1-3-2 double play.

Torey Richards finished the game 2-3 from the place while Nielsen finished 1-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Game 2
McKayla Armbruster (4-0) started for Minnesota State and earned the win after she pitched six scoreless innings only allowing three hits and striking out three batters. Katie Bracken finished the game pitching one inning allowing one hit but ending the game on a groundout double play.

The Mavericks wasted no time putting runs on the board as in the bottom of the first inning as the first six players got on base punctuated by a Hannah McCarville single to left field that scored two runs.

After a pitching change from the Lions, Minnesota State put two more runs on the board in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Defense ruled the rest of the way and despite several runners getting into scoring position, neither team was able to score during the game allowing the Mavericks to take the 4-0 win.

McCarville finished 1-3 with two RBI and a run scored while Nelson finished 1-2 with a walk.

The Mavericks return to action tomorrow afternoon as they take on Rogers State and Northwest Missouri State with first pitch in game one scheduled for 2:00 p.m.