MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (20-6, 2-0 NSIC) began the conference portion of their schedule this morning with a doubleheader against the Concordia-St. Paul softball team (17-4-1, 0-2 NSIC). The Mavericks took care of the Golden Bears in game one with 4-0 shut out victory. In game two, it was a defensive battle but, the Mavericks prevailed in the bottom of the seventh for a 1-0 victory and sweep of the Golden Bears.
GAME 1
Mackenzie Ward (13-2) got the start for the Mavericks this morning in the win. In a complete game, Ward allowed no runs and just four hits in the shut out. Ward racked up 16 strikeouts and walked only two batters while facing 27 batters in the contest.
Erica McCullough (3-2) started in the circle for the Golden Bears this morning in the loss. In five innings pitched, McCullough allowed four runs, two of which were earned, on four hits. McCullough had five strikeouts and walked two in facing 23 batters in the game. Kristi Pilz pitched one inning of relief of McCullough. Pilz gave up no runs and no hits with two strikeouts and one walk in four batters faced.
After a scoreless first inning the Mavericks started the scoring off with a sacrifice fly to left field by Hailey Forshee to bring home Cheyenne Behrends from third. The Mavericks led 1-0 after two. Ward had a perfect game going through the fourth striking out 11 of the 12 batters faced and a ground out holding the Golden Bear bats in check. In the top half of the fifth the Golden Bears bats showed signs of life as they were able to move runners into scoring position. Ward accepted the challenge and proceeded to strike out the next two batters to end the Concordia-St. Paul threat. Minnesota State created separation in the fifth from errors by the Golden Bears and base running from the Mavericks scored two to begin the fifth. Kylie Sullivan scored the final run of the game in the fifth, with an RBI single up the middle bringing across Madi Newman to take a 4-0 lead. Minnesota State allowed just two more hits in the game as they secured the 4-0 shut out in game one.
GAME 2
McKayla Armbruster got the start for the Mavericks in game two. In four innings pitched, Armbruster gave up no runs on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 17 batters faced. Katie Bracken (5-2) got the win for the Mavericks in the sweep. In three innings pitched, Bracken gave up one hit, one strikeout, and one walk facing 11 batters.
Bryanna Olson (11-2) started for the Golden Bears in game two. In a complete game, Olson gave up one run, which was earned, on four hits. She had seven strikeouts and one walk while facing 24 batters.
The Mavericks and Golden Bears combined for seven total hits in game two. In the first, both teams got a runner onto second but to no avail. In the second both teams went down in order. The bottom of the third saw Newman double to right field and give life to the Mavericks offense. With two down, Sullivan stepped to the plate with a chance of breaking the deadlock but, was unable to capitalize. Both teams once again in the fourth shut each other down and swiftly moved to the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Marina Carter pitch ran for Forshee and made her way to third with a steal and wild pitch. Courtney Baxter now had a chance to put the Mavericks up but, flied out to left field to retire the side. With runner on first and second for the Golden Bears the Mavericks got out of the jam and kept the game scoreless. With the Mavericks going down in order in the bottom half of the sixth, they did the same to the Golden Bears in the top of the seventh. Torey Richards started the bottom of the seventh with a single asKacy Nickerson pinch ran for Richards. Behrends laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Nickerson to second. Ellie Tallman then pinch hit for Schulz and got the game winning RBI with a single up the middle bringing Nickerson home on a close play at the plate. The Mavericks prevailed in a tight one, 1-0.
The Mavericks return to the diamond Saturday as they host #7 Augustana at the MSU Softball Complex in a doubleheader with first pitches slated for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
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