Pittsburg, Kan. --- The Minnesota State softball team (15-6, 0-0 NSIC) wrapped the weekend up against the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma (24-5, 4-0 MIAA) and the Gorillas of Pittsburg State (20-8, 3-1 MIAA) on day two. The Mavericks started the day off right with a 3-0 victory over Central Oklahoma. Pittsburg State was able to wrangle in the Mavericks for the second time this weekend with a 5-2 decision.
GAME 1
Mackenzie Ward (9-2) was in the circle for the Mavericks today for the win. Ward pitched a complete game giving up just two hit and two walks while racking up 16 strikeouts facing 27 batters.
Isle Cox (5-3) started for the Bronchos today in the loss. Cox pitched a complete game giving up three earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout and no walks while facing 28 batters.
Freshman Cheyenne Behrends led the Mavericks offense this morning going two for three at the plate with one RBI. Haley Forret and Ellie Tallman each had a hit as well as an RBI in the contest. It was a scoreless affair through the first four innings until the top of the fifth. Behrends broke the deadlock at zero in the top of the fifth with a solo shot to center field to give MSU a 1-0 lead. Ward held the Bronchos in check all day only allowing two hits in the shutout. With Marina Carter pinch running for Behrends in the top of the seventh, a Forret double brought around Carter to up the lead to 2-0. Tallman added an RBI single to the stat column as she dropped one in center field bringing Forret across the plate for a 3-0 lead. Ward struck out the Bronchos in order, to put the game on ice.
GAME 2
McKayla Armbruster (0-2) got the start on the rubber today for the Mavericks in the loss. In 2.2 innings, Armbruster gave up four runs on four hits all of which were earned. In 13 batters faced, Armbruster had one strikeout and one walk. Katie Bracken pitched 2.2 innings in relief giving up one earned run on four hits. Bracken had two strikeouts in 12 batters faced. Kacy Nickerson finished the game for Minnesota State giving up no hits, no runs, and no walks in two batters faced.
Abby Atkin started (7-6) in the circle for the Gorillas today in the win. In six innings pitched. Atkin allowed two earned runs on six hits and accumulated six strikeouts and two walks facing 25 batters. Taylor Compton got the save for the Gorillas with one inning pitched allowing no runs on one hit while facing four batters.
Both offenses were stagnant through the first two innings with just four hits combined. The Pittsburg State offense changed that trend in the bottom half of the third. The Gorillas drove in three runs with two RBI doubles and a single from Lambert, Hayes, and Griffith. With Griffith in scoring position, Madison Szymanski stepped to the plate and homered over the center field wall to push the Gorillas lead to 5-0. Minnesota State would muster up just four hits until the seventh and allowed just three after the third. With Tallman on second, Madi Newman got the Mavericks on the board with one of the four hits with a double to right center brining home Tallman to get the score to 5-1. Forret and Ella Schulz found their way on base via hits and advanced after a Newman ground out. Forret would score shortly after on a wild pitch but, would not be enough to get the Mavericks over the top as they fell to the Gorillas 5-2.
The Mavericks return to action tomorrow as they head to Joplin, Mo., to take on Missouri Southern. These games against the Lions have been moved up earlier than originally scheduled due to the weather forecasted for tomorrow. First pitches are now set for 10:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m.
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