Rochester, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team continued postseason play with victories over St. Cloud State 4-0, and #1 Augustana 6-0. With the victory over the Vikings, the Mavericks move on to the finals of the NSIC Softball Tournament against the team that comes out of the losers bracket with two opportunities to win and clinch the tournament title.
 
With the wins, the teams 16th and 17th in a row, Minnesota State improves its record to 37-7 on the season, while the Huskies dropped 27-15 and the Vikings drop to 42-5.
 
Game 1 - St. Cloud State
 
Mackenzie Ward (21-3) started for the Mavericks and earned the win pitching a complete shutout allowing only two hits while striking out 13 batters. Trinity Junker (7-3) started for the Huskies and took the loss allowing four runs in four and one-third innings of work.
 
In the bottom of the second inning, Hannah Hastings hit a two-run homer bringing Hailey Forshee home and putting the Mavericks up 2-0.
 
With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the fourth, Kylie Sullivan reached on a fielder's choice allowing Hannah McCarville to score from third.
 
Torey Richards put her mark on the game in the bottom of the fifth when she drew a full count and hit a solo homer, extending the Minnesota State lead to 4-0.
 
Hastings finished the game 2-2 from the plate with two RBI and Richards finished 1-3 from the plate.
 
Game 2 - Augustana
 
Ward (22-3) started once more for the Mavericks and earned the win with six scoreless innings of work, allowing only a pair of hits and striking out five. McKayla Armbruster entered in the seventh inning to relieve Ward and preserved the shutout, striking out a batter and allowing a single hit. Ashley Mickschl (23-3) started for the Vikings and took the loss allowing three runs on four hits in three innings of work.
 
With Sullivan and Sydney Nelson on base in the top of the third, Sydney Nielsen demolished a ball over the left centerfield fence that put the Mavericks up 3-0.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Nielsen once again connected on a pitch to hit a lead-off solo homerun, putting Minnesota State up by four runs.

The Mavericks added two more runs in the top of the seventh when Sullivan hit a two-out double into the left field gap to score pinch runner Kacy Nickerson from second before being hit home herself by Carly Esselman.
 
Nielsen finished the game 2-4 with four RBI coming on her two homeruns. Sullivan finished the game 2-3 at the plate with an RBI and a pair of runs scored.
 
Minnesota State will continue NSIC Softball Tournament play tomorrow against the team that comes out of the losers bracket with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The Mavericks will win the NSIC Softball Tournament with a victory in that game and in the event of a loss, they would have the opportunity to win once more in a winner-take-all re-match.