MANKATO, Minn. --- #17 Minnesota State kept things rolling Monday as it defeated both Northwood University 2-0 and Saginaw Valley State 3-1 in 11 innings.
With the wins, MSU improves to 10-4 on the season. With the losses, NU dropped to 6-4, while SVSU fell to 6-3.
Minnesota State began the day with a 2-0 win over the Northwood Timberwolves. Senior Mackeznie Ward (6-2) picked up the win as she threw her fourth shutout of the season. Ward allowed just two hits and two walks, while striking out four batters. Gianna Frank (4-2) took the loss as she gave up two runs on five hits in the complete game effort. Frank also struck out six batters.
The Mavericks wasted no time in taking the lead as senior
Torey Richards and sophomore
Kylie Sullivan opened the game with a pair of singles. Frank managed to get the next two outs, but a single through the right side by senior
Hailey Forshee brought around Richards as the Mavericks took a 1-0 lead.
MSU held its 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth as sophomore
Courtney Baxter led off the Maverick fifth with a single through the right side. Freshman
Marina Carter came on to run for Baxter and stole second. Carter moved up to third on a ground out, before sophomore
Madi Newman drove in Carter with a single to third base to out MSU up 2-0.
The Timberwolves managed to get just one base runner in the final two innings as the Mavericks claimed the 2-0 win.
MSU went into extra innings for the first time this season in its final game of the day as the Mavericks defeated Saginaw Valley State 3-1 in 11 innings. Ward (7-2) picked up the win in relief of sophomore
Katie Bracken. Ward threw 7.1 innings where she gave up one unearned run while striking out nine. Bracken allowed no runs in 3.2 innings. Emily Depew (3-1) took the loss as she allowed three runs, two earned in 7.1 innings in relief, while striking out 11. Alyssa Muench got the no decision as she allowed two hits in 3.2 innings.
The first seven innings saw a pitcher's dual as both teams combined to leave 10 base runners stranded. As the game went into the eighth, the international tie breaker rule was put into effect, meaning each team would start the inning with a runner on second base.
With the game still scoreless heading into the bottom of the 10th, the Cardinals managed to put runners on the corners with nobody out. A ground out put runners on second and third, but Ward managed to prevent the winning run to cross as she forced a ground out to the catcher, before striking out the final batter of the inning to keep the game scoreless.
In the top of the 11th, freshman
Cheyenne Behrends was placed on second and then moved to third as a fielder's choice left runners on first and third. Senior
Torey Richards then brought Behrends home with a sacrifice fly to left field, before sophomore
Kylie Sullivan blasted a two-run home run to center field to put MSU up 3-0.
The Cardinals managed to get runners on second and third in the bottom of the 11th, before Ward forced a pop up to the shortstop for the first out. Leah Denome then singled to left to bring in SVSU's first run of the game, but the base runner on second got caught in a run down as Denome advanced to second with two outs. Ward struck out the following batter to end the game with a 3-1 win for the Mavericks.
Minnesota State continues play at the Spring Games on Wednesday as it take on Bloomfield at 2:30 p.m. (EST) and Clarion at 4:45 p.m. (EST).
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