Joplin, Mo. --- The Minnesota State softball team (16-6, 0-0 NSIC) traveled to Joplin, Mo., Monday to take on the Lions of Missouri Southern (15-12, 3-1 MIAA). Mackenzie Ward and the Mavericks reigned in the Lions from the jump and cruised to a 7-0 victory in game one of the doubleheader. In the second game, the Mavericks and Lions were both scoreless in the bottom half of the third with two outs before weather rendered the game a no contest.

Mackenzie Ward (11-2) started in the circle today for Minnesota State. In five innings pitched, Ward allowed just one hit, no runs, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 17 batters faced. Katie Bracken pitched two innings in relief of Ward tallying one strikeout and one walk allowing two hits against nine batters.

Bailey Lacy (7-4) started for the lions today in the loss. In five and a third innings pitched, Lacy allowed four runs off eight hits, all of which were earned. She had two strikeouts and two walks in 25 batters faced. Avery Tallman pitched one and two thirds' innings in relief of Lacy giving up three earned runs on four hits with one strikeout in nine batters faced.

Sydney Nielsen led the Minnesota State offense this morning going three of four from the plate with three RBI's including two home runs. Kylie Sullivan had three hits while Ellie Tallman and Hailey Forshee each had two hits. With two down in the top of the first, Nielsen put the Mavericks on the board with her first of two home runs in the game with a solo shot to left field. In the top half of the second, Minnesota State had runners in scoring position after a double from Forshee moved Tallman to third. Sydney Nelson hit a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Tallman to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead. To start the third inning Sullivan singled down the third base line and promptly stole second. Nielsen stepped to the plate again and this time hit a two-run shot to left center for her second homer of the day. This pushed the MSU lead to 4-0. After allowing the first Lions hit in the bottom of the fourth, the Mavericks looked to extend their lead. With Nielsen on second, Katie Bracken had an RBI single up the middle bringing Nielsen across the plate. With MSU leading 5-0 nothing changed through the sixth. In the seventh with runners in scoring position, Tallman doubled up the middle earning two RBIs in the process. The Mavericks led 7-0 as the defense held strong in the bottom half to give the Mavericks the 7-0 victory.

Minnesota State returns home this week for a nonconference doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State in the Mavericks All-Sports Dome on Thursday with first pitches slated for 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

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