Rochester, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team defeated the #1 ranked Augustana Vikings for the second time in two days to earn the 2021 NSIC Softball Tournament Championship. This marks the fourth such time that the Mavericks have claimed the NSIC Championship joining the 2012, 2013 and 2017 conference champs. By winning the conference championship, Minnesota State earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Regionals which begin next Wednesday in Edmond, Okla., with game times and opponents to be determined.
Minnesota State was forced to play Augustana twice Saturday as they lost game one 5-0, their first loss of the double elimination NSIC Tournament, prompting a winner take all game between the Mavericks and Vikings which Minnesota State won 4-2.
Game 1
Mackenzie Ward (22-4) started for the Mavericks and took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in four and one-third innings of work. She was relieved by
Katie Bracken who pitched one and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball. Amber Elliot (19-2) started for the Vikings earned the win allowing only five hits and no runs.
The Vikings put their first two runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first with an RBI single followed by an RBI double.
In the bottom of the second, Augustana added a third run with a solo homer.
A pair of RBI doubles in the fifth inning would cap off the scoring in the game, giving the Vikings the 5-0 edge.
Five Mavericks recorded hits in the game, but the team left six runners on base.
Game 2
McKayla Armbruster (14-3) started for the Mavericks and worked her way through a dangerous Viking lineup allowing only two runs in six and one-third innings pitched.
Bracken entered the game with one out it in the seventh and a pair of runners on base but earned the save without allowing a hit. Olivia Hazelbaker (1-1) started for the Vikings and took the loss allowing four runs in five innings of work.
In the top of the third with two out and two runners on base,
Sydney Nielsen hit a scorcher down the left field line that hopped over third base to score the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Vikings had a runner on second with two out and their batter hit a liner that was hooking to the corner, but
Kylie Sullivan was able to make a running grab to end the threat.
The top of the sixth inning saw the Mavericks load the bases with no outs when
Hannah McCarville hit a single into right field that scored two more runs. After the team hit into a double play,
Ellie Tallman brought in a third run with a single into right field to put Minnesota State up 4-0.
Augustana picked up two runs in the bottom of the seventh which caused Minnesota State to make a pitching change with one out and runners on first and second.
Bracken entered the save situation with the winning run at the plate for the Vikings, but the Mavericks got the second out on a hard grounder to first that
Hailey Forshee snagged before she tagged first for the force out that advanced the runners to second and third.
Augustana, down to their final out had worked a full count before sending another hard line drive into right field where
Sullivan made another spectacular defensive play to catch the ball for the final out of the game, clinching the NSIC Championship for Minnesota State.
The Mavericks will learn their opponent and game time during the NCAA softball selection show on www.NCAA.com tomorrow, May 16 at 9 p.m. (CT), with the NCAA Central Region Tournament set to begin on Wednesday, May 19, in Edmond, Okla.
