Mankato, Minn. --- The #17 Minnesota State softball finished the 2021 regular season and extended its win streak to 14 games after defeating the Sioux Falls Cougars twice, 6-3 and 1-0.
 
With the wins, Minnesota State finished the regular season 34-7 (23-5 NSIC) to earn the second overall seed in the NSIC Softball tournament, while Cougars drop to 21-22 (15-14 NSIC).

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (19-3) started the game for the Mavericks and pitched the complete game allowing three runs, only one of them earned, on four hits. Ward's 56-inning scoreless streak came to an end in the top of the fourth inning when Sioux Falls connected on a two-run homer. Kaitlyn VanDerZwaag started for the Cougars but did not record a decision in four and one-third innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits. Kennedy Thomas (0-1) pitched one and two-thirds innings of relief and took the loss allowing three runs on four hits.
 
Minnesota State struck first when Hannah McCarville made it home from third on a wild pitch. In the next at bat, Madi Newman hit a sacrifice fly which brought home Hailey Forshee.
 
The Cougars tied the game in the top of the fourth when they hit a two-run homer, but the Mavericks re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Sydney Nielsen scored on a wild pitch. In the top of the sixth, Sioux Falls tied the game once again when a single was misplayed in the outfield which allowed a runner to score.
 
The Mavericks wasted no time in the bottom of the sixth when Nielsen hit a sac fly which scored Sydney Nelson before Torey Richards smashed a double into left center which scored a pair of runs, giving Minnesota State the 6-3 lead which they maintained for the win.
 
McCarville finished game one 2-4 from the plate and Nelson finished 2-2 while Richards brought home two runs, going 1-4 from the plate.
 
Game 2

McKayla Armbruster (13-3) started for Minnesota State and earned the complete game shutout allowing only three hits while striking out four batters. Hannah Cress (10-11) started for the Cougars and took the loss despite allowing only a single run on eight hits.
 
Defense dominated the game as several hard-hit balls from both teams continued to be gobbled up by defenders in the field. One of the highlights of the game came when the Cougars blasted a ball that looked like it was going to get between third and second, but Richards made a backhand grab and rifled the ball to first to get the out.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, McCarville made three straight outs from third snagging a grounder for the throw to first before catching a nasty line drive down the left-field line and ending the inning on a popup in front of the Maverick dugout.
 
The lone run came in the bottom of the sixth Hannah Hastings hit a bloop single over the second baseman's glove to score Richards from second. The top of the seventh would not see a challenge from the Cougars with Armbruster recording a pair of strikeouts and recording fly out.
 
Richards, Hastings and Forshee all finished the game 2-3 from the plate.
 
Minnesota State will play its first game of the NSIC Softball Tournament Thursday, May 12, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. As the second overall seed in the tournament, the Mavericks will play the highest remaining seeded team between Southwest Minnesota State, Minot State and Sioux Falls after their games earlier in the day. More information regarding the NSIC Softball Tournament can be found here.