Clermont, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team (13-4, 0-0 NSIC) came out ablaze in their final day at the NTC Spring Games. The Mavericks offense was alive and well as they scored 23 runs in their three games this afternoon. In the first game of the doubleheader against Concord University (4-12) the Mavericks went on to win 5-1 in game and would invoke the run rule in game two as they were victorious in five innings, 9-1. Minnesota State added a third game to their schedule today against Stonehill College (3-3) and once again a big fourth inning propelled the Mavericks to a 9-1 win as well as head coach Lori Meyer's 1,300th career win.

Meyer, who began her coaching career at MSU in 1985, entered 2022 as the winningest active coach in NCAA Division II. She is only the second coach in the history of NCAA DII softball to win at least 1,300 games, trailing only Gary Bryce, who had 1,340 wins at Wayne State (Mich.) in a career that spanned 1982-2021.

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (8-2) started the game for the Mavericks and earned the victory. In six innings pitched, Ward gave up just one hit, no walks and 12 strikeouts in the contest. Kacy Nickerson pitched one inning in relief of Ward and gave up two hits and one earned run with one strikeout.

Caitlyn Bauer (2-6) got the start for the Mountain Lions today in the loss. In six innings pitched, she gave up four hits, five walks, five runs three of which were earned and had two strikeouts.

The Mavericks wasted no time in getting to work as Madi Newman had a bunt single that brought Torey Richards home from third to begin the scoring. Later in the first, Hailey Forshee earned her first of two RBIs on the day with a sac fly bringing in Kylie Sullivan. Newman started the scoring off in the bottom half of the sixth with a sac bunt that scored Marina Carter. Sydney Nielsen followed it up with an RBI single to left field driving in Sullivan. Forshee would finish the scoring in the game for the Mavericks with a sac bunt bringing home Newman for a 6-0 lead.

The Mountain Lions managed just three hits in the game and Jolie Privett had the lone RBI, bringing in Laura Thompson with a double to left field.

Game 2

Kacy Nickerson (1-0) started in the circle for the Mavericks today in game two and earned the win. In three innings pitched, Nickerson gave up three hits, two walks and one run which was earned. Brianne Stone pitched two innings of relief for the Mavericks as she gave up one hit, no walks and got one strikeout.

Rachael Koller (2-5) started the game for the Mountain Lions in the loss. In 1.1 innings pitched, Koller gave up one hit, four walks and six runs five of which were earned. Kylee Stacy pitched 3.2 innings in relief of Koller and gave up five hits, three runs all of which were earned and two walks. Stacy had two strikeouts in her efforts.

Richards led the Mavericks offense with three RBI's. Sydney Nelson led the team in hits as she had two on the day.  The Mavericks started quick and took a 2-0 lead after a sac fly from Newman. Minnesota State gave up one hit in the bottom half of the first before adding four more runs to their total in the top of the second. Three Mavericks scored on wild pitches in the inning and extended the lead to 6-1 after two. In the top half of the third, Richards would continue to push the Mavericks ahead with a two RBI double to left field driving in Courtney Baxter and Cheyenne Behrends for an 8-1 lead. Richards brought the run rule in effect with a sac fly RBI to left field bringing home Marina Carter for the final score of 9-1.

Concord's offense was able to get four hits in the game with Kylee Stacy leading the way with two hits and the lone RBI for the Mountain Lions in bottom of the second.

Game 3

Katie Bracken (4-1) was in the circle for the Mavericks in game three. In four innings pitched, Bracken gave up two hits and one run which was earned. Ward closed the game out with one inning pitched with two strikeouts, gave up one hit and one walk.

Skylar Brandermarte (2-2) started for Stonehill giving up nine runs on 10 hits. All the runs were earned. Brandermarte had three strikeouts and two walks in the loss.

Three Mavericks had two hits including Sullivan, Nielsen and Behrends. Sullivan and Bracken both had a team high two RBIs in the contest. Newman started the scoring off with a sac fly to left field in the first sending Sullivan across the plate. Minnesota State put Stonehill down in order in the bottom half of the first. Behrends would push the Mavericks lead to 2-0 in the second with an RBI single to left field. Minnesota State's fourth inning was the deciding factor in this one. The Mavericks racked up seven runs in the top half of the fourth on seven hits. Stonehill would get one back in the bottom of the fourth but, Minnesota State ended the game with the run rule after giving up nothing in the fifth.

Stonehill managed just three hits in the game and left four runners on. Courtney Brochu singled up the middle in the bottom half of the fourth to bring in Nardel for their lone run of the game.

The Mavericks return to action March 18-20 as they take part in the Fairfield Classic in St. Joseph, Mo., Minnesota State begins tournament action against Missouri Southern and Wisconsin-Parkside with first pitches set for 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m., respectively.

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