Winona, Minn. --- The #20 Minnesota State softball team handed the #13 Winona State Warriors a pair of losses in Winona, Minn., Tuesday, a 3-1 win and an 11-2 win in five innings for the Mavericks. With the results, the Mavericks improve to 15-4 (4-2 NSIC) on the season while the Warriors drop to 16-5 (5-3 NSIC)

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (9-2) 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. Jordyn Kleman (10-2) started for the Warriors and took the loss allowing three runs on eight hits.
 
Madi Newman put the Mavericks on top in the second inning when she powered a two-run homer over the right field wall.
 
In the top of the third inning, Minnesota State added another run after Carly Esselman hit a lead-off double into left centerfield before being advanced to third on a fielder's choice and brought home by a Torey Richards single.
 
The Warriors scored their lone run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly, but the Mavericks were able to get out of a jam to earn the 3-1 victory.
 
Newman finished the game 1-3 from the plate with two RBI and a run scored from her two-run homer and Richards finished 1-2 with RBI and a walk drawn.

Game 2

McKayla Armbruster (6-1) started for Minnesota State and earned the win after she pitched five innings allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out five batters. Liz Pautz (5-3) started for the Warriors and took the loss after pitching one and one third innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
 
The Mavericks wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning when Hannah McCarville doubled down the right field line to score Esselman before scoring herself on a throwing error from second to first.
 
In the second inning, Sydney Nielsen drilled a three-run homer to put the Mavericks up 5-0. Sydney Nelson followed up that homer with a solo homerun of her own in the third inning before the Mavericks strung together three more runs in the fourth to take a 9-0 lead.
 
Nielsen continued her hot streak when she blasted a two-run homer in the fifth inning, extending the Maverick lead to 11-0. The Warriors managed to put together a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth but with a nine run lead the Mavericks one by run rule after five innings.
 
Nielsen finished the game 2-4 with five RBI while Esselman finished 3-3 with a walk and four runs scored. Hannah Hastings finished the game 3-4 from the pate and Nelson finished 1-1 with two RBI and two walks.

The Mavericks return to action this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against the Wayne State Wildcats and the #2 ranked Augustana Vikings, Saturday and Sunday.