Clermont, Fla. --- The Minnesota State women's softball team (7-4, 0-0 NSIC) dropped/split their opening games of the NTC Spring Games this morning falling to the Dragons of Tiffin University (8-9, 0-0 GMAC) with a final of 5-2 in game one. The Mavericks bounced back in game two against the University of Southern Indiana Eagles (12-9, 0-0 GLVC)
Game 1
Katie Bracken (3-1) started game one in the circle for the Mavericks. In five innings pitched, Bracken gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits. Bracken walked three batters and had three strikeouts in the game. McKayla Armbruster pitched two innings in relief giving up one earned run on three hits. Armbruster had three strikeouts and gave up no walks in relief of Bracken.
Tiffin's Sarah Klein (3-1) got the start for the Dragons in the circle and pitched a complete game. In seven innings, Klein gave up two earned runs on four hits in the win. She had seven strike outs, five walks and two errors in the win.
Madi Newman accounted for both of Minnesota States runs in the contest. With bases loaded in the bottom of the second Newman was able to get on base via walk to bring in MSU's first run of the game. Torey Richards, Hailey Forshee, Courtney Baxter, and Ellie Tallman each had a hit in the game. Newman grounded out to the shortstop in the bottom of the seventh to score a run but did not start the rally the Mavericks needed.
Taylor Whalen for the Dragons led their offense today at the plate. Whalen went two for four driving in one run. Aubrie Harper was the other Dragon who had two hits in the contest. Maci Head and Kirsten Georges were responsible for the other two RBI's. Tiffin's big sixth inning propelled them to victory as they scored all five runs on five hits in the top half of the frame.
Game 2
Mackenzie Ward (4-2) started in the circle for the second game of day one for the Mavericks. Ward pitched a complete game. In seven innings, Ward racked up 11 strike outs, besting her previous season high of 10, three hits and only three walks in the shutout.
Southern Indiana's Maddie Duncan (2-4) started for the Screaming Eagles and pitched 3.2 innings. Duncan had three strikeouts, gave up three hits, one walk and had one error. Duncan gave up two runs one of which was earned.
Josie Newman pitched 3.1 innings in relief giving three hits, no runs, and no walks.
Freshman Cheyenne Behrends led the Mavericks bats going three for three today at the plate with one RBI and two singles. Behrends added a solo shot to left field to put the Mavericks up 1-0 in the third.
Minnesota State had three other Mavericks find their way on base via a hit with Katie Bracken, the Mavericks leading hitter, driving in the second run for Minnesota State with an RBI single to left field bringing in Sydney Nielsen to put the Mavericks up 2-0 in the fourth.
Southern Indiana was only able to muster up three hits in the game all of which were singles. The Screaming Eagles got runners in scoring position three times in the game but, Ward and the Mavericks defense were able to thwart any threat of them crossing the plate.
Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow for day two of the NTC Spring Games with matchups against Edinboro and Shippensburg with first pitches for these games set 12:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., respectively.
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