Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team claimed victory in both its games Sunday as it defeated Washburn 15-3 in five innings and defeating Lewis 6-5. MSU now sits at a 4-1 record on the season.
Game 1 Recap
Minnesota State started the day with a dominant 15-3 win over Washburn University. Senior Mackenzie Ward (2-1) picked up her second win of the season after 5.0 innings pitched with eight strikeouts and three earned runs. Jaden LaBarge (0-2) was notched with the loss after 2.1 innings pitched allowing two runs and recording two strikeouts. Raegen Hamm pitched 1.0 inning of relief allowing seven runs, with six earned and one strikeout.
Washburn took an early 1-0 lead in the first before the Mavericks bats came to life. In the bottom half of the second LaBarge walked the bases loaded as Sydney Nelson hit one to left field and an error by the Ichabod's allowed Katie Bracken to cross home plate to knot the score up at one. With back-to-back singles by Madi Newman and Sydney Nielsen with bases loaded the Mavericks to a 3-1 lead at the end of two.
The third inning for the Mavericks proved to be the most fruitful as they would score eight runs. Hamm walked five Mavericks and a triple from Richards drove in three runs that propelled the Mavericks to a 11-1 lead at the end of three.
In the top half of the fourth, Ward and the Mavericks put them down three in a row. Bracken started the scoring off with in the bottom half of the fourth with a solo shot over the left field wall to put the Mavericks up 12-0. With runners on second and third Marina Carter singled up the middle to drive in another. Later, Hailey Forshee doubled to left field and drove in two more for the Mavericks and put them up 15-1. In the top of the fifth, the Ichabod's managed to get two runs back but, it was not enough to overcome the large deficit. The Mavericks won 15-3.
Game 2 Recap
In game two of the day, The Mavericks took down a tough Lewis University squad. The Mavericks defeated the Flyers 6-5 in a tightly contested game that came down to the final inning. Bracken (2-0) got her second win of the year with 1.1 innings pitched and one run allowed and one strikeout. Ward got the save with one inning pitched with two strikeouts. Delaney Garden (0-1) got the loss allowing six runs, five earned with four strikeouts.
It was a scoreless game through two and a half before the Mavericks offense erupted. With two on, Torey Richards singled to left center and drove in two runs to kick things off. With runners on second and third with two outs Kylie Sullivan tripled to center field and brought home two more runs and gave the Mavericks a 4-0 lead.
After a scoreless fourth, the top of the fifth saw the Flyers make their comeback. Consecutive doubles had the Flyers within two with a score of 4-2. The Mavericks would allow two more in the frame as Lewis took a 5-4 lead after the top half of the fifth. In the bottom half, Forshee drove in Nielsen from second with a single to right field and tied the game up at five.
The Mavericks put them down in order in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Nielsen singled to drive in Newman from third to give the Mavericks the go ahead run with a score of 6-5. Ward entered in the top of the seventh for the save and struck out two and popped one out to earn the save and secure the Mavericks second win of the day 6-5.
The Mavericks return to action Friday, Feb. 18 as they travel to Emporia, Kan. To take part in the Emporia State Softball Classic. The Mavericks start the tournament action against Northwest Missouri State with first pitch slated for 2:30 p.m.
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