St. Cloud, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (26-9, 8-3 NSIC) traveled to St. Cloud, Minn. To take on the Huskies of St. Cloud State (20-12, 8-3 NSIC) to finish their weekend of NSIC competition. In game one, the Mavericks offense was in full force to go with Mackenzie Wards arm in a 5-0 shut out victory. Game two saw the Mavericks fall to the Huskies 5-2.
GAME 1
Mackenzie Ward (17-3) got the start in the circle in the game one win. In a complete game, Ward gave up no runs on two hits to go with 13 strikeouts and three walks in 27 batters faced.
Kylie Thomsen (0-3) started for the Huskies in the game one loss. In two innings pitched, Thomsen allowed three earned runs on two hits with on strikeout and walk. Lauren Kirchberg pitched two innings in relief giving up one earned run on four hits with one strikeout in 10 batters faced. Emma Eickhoff finished the game for the Huskies pitching three innings in relief allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Cheyenne Behrends and Hailey Forshee each had three RBI and two RBI to lead the Mavericks offense in game one. The scoring for the Mavericks began in the second inning when Forshee brought Courtney Baxter home with an RBI single to left center. In the third with Madi Newman and Emma Dennison on third and second, Behrends extended the MSU lead with a two RBI double to left center to make the score 3-0. After a scoreless fourth, Behrends earned her third RBI on a bunt single that scored Newman from third. In the top of the sixth Forshee capped off the Mavericks scoring with a solo shot to left field. Ward closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh with three strikeouts and sealed a MSU victory 5-0.
GAME 2
McKayla Armbruster (2-5) got the start for the Mavericks in game two this afternoon. In four and a third innings pitched, Armbruster gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits. She had seven strikeouts and no walks in 20 batters faced. Katie Bracken pitched one and two third innings of relief for the Mavericks giving up one earned run on two hits with no strikeouts or walks while facing nine batters.
Trinity Junker (13-5) started for the Huskies in the circle in game two. In a complete game, Junker gave up two earned runs on six hits. She had six strikeouts and no walks in the contest while facing 28 batters.
Ellie Tallman got the Mavericks on the board first after two scoreless innings to begin the game. With Neman on second, Tallman's RBI double gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. The Huskies answered quickly in the bottom half with a pair of runs on a throwing error and a fielder's choice play that gave the Huskies the lead 2-1. After a scoreless fourth, the Huskies added length to their lead with a solo homer and a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-1 in favor of the Huskies. With Torey Richards on second and Baxter on third, Forshee singled to left field to inch MSU closer. The Mavericks rally failed as they couldn't capitalize with the tying run at the plate. Minnesota State fell in game two, 5-2.
The Mavericks return to the diamond on Tuesday as they travel to Fayette, Iowa to take on the Peacocks of Upper Iowa University in more NSIC action. First pitches are slated for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
-30-
