Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team split its NSIC conference play opening doubleheader with the Minot State Beavers Friday afternoon in Mankato, Minn. In game one the Mavericks defeated the Beavers 7-1 but they were defeated by Minot State in game two 8-6.  With the split, Minnesota State moves to 12-3 (1-1 NSIC) on the season and Minot State moves to 10-8 (3-1 NSIC).

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (7-2) started the game for the Mavericks and earned the win pitching a complete game seven innings while striking out eight and allowing only a single run on five hits. Gabi Dawyduk (1-2) started for the Beavers and took the loss allowing six runs on eight hits in four and a third innings of work.

Minnesota State got on the board early when Carly Esselman led off the game with a single before Sydney Nielsen was able to reach first safely on a fielders choice that netted no outs. After a groundout advanced the runners to second and third,Hannah McCarville snuck a single through the right side of the infield to score Esselman and Nielsen, putting the Mavericks up 2-0. 

It wasn't until the top of the fourth that the Beavers put a run on the board when they executed a double steal to score their lone run of the game. In the bottom of the fourth Kylie Sullivan responded with a triple which scored Sydney Nelson before Sullivan herself was brought home by Esselman to put the Mavericks up 4-1.

Minnesota State tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Hailey Forshee had a hard hit through the right side which brought a pair of runners home and in the sixth the scoring concluded when Nielsen hit a sac fly which brought Sullivan home.

Sullivan finished the game 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored while Esselman and Torey Richards each finished 2-4 from the plate.

Game 2

McKayla Armbruster (5-1) started for Minnesota State and took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits in four and one-third innings of work. Katie Bracken pitched an inning and two-third of relief and Ward also pitched an inning of relief to end the game. Trinity Valentine (5-3) pitched the complete game for the Beavers to earn the win despite allowing six runs on 13 hits.

The Mavericks once again struck first when they strung together several singles in a row when Richards, Hailey Forshee and Madi Newman each brought home a run to put Minnesota State up 3-0.

In the top of the fourth, the Beavers cut into the Maverick lead with a solo homerun before Nelson responded with a solo homer of her own in the bottom of the inning, giving Minnesota State a 4-1 lead.

Minot State rallied in the fifth inning when they strung together a series of hits that ultimately brought home five runs and allowed the Beavers to take a 6-4 lead. After Minot State tacked on a run in the sixth, the Mavericks started a rally of their own and were able to add two runs to cut the Minot State lead to 7-6. The Beavers added another run in the seventh and despite threatening in the bottom of the seventh, the Mavericks weren't able to finish the comeback, falling 8-6.

The Mavericks return to action tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader against the University of Mary with first pitch scheduled for noon.