FAYETTE, Iowa --- The Minnesota State softball team (28-10, 10-4 NSIC) traveled to the University of Upper Iowa to take on the Peacocks (15-16, 6-5 NSIC) in a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader. The Mavericks offense was alive and well in game one as MSU outpaced the Peacocks 8-1. In game two, MSU exploded out of the gates with a seven run first inning but a big rally in the bottom of the sixth by the Peacocks tied the game at 11. The Mavericks prevailed in eight innings 12-11 in game two.

GAME 1

Mackenzie Ward (18-3) got the start for the Mavericks in the game one win. In six innings pitched, Ward allowed one unearned run on five hits while racking up nine strikeouts and one walk in 25 batters faced. Katie Bracken pitched one inning of relief giving up no runs, one hit, and no walks in five batters faced.

Sydney Wilcox (8-8) got the start in the circle for the Peacocks today in the loss. In a complete game, Wilcox gave up eight runs, seven of which were earned, on 13 hits. Wilcox had four strikeouts and three walks while facing 37 batters.

The Maverick bats were strong from the start. Cheyenne Behrends, Kylie Sullivan, and Torey Richards all had three hits in the game. Richards is now tenth all time in MSU history in career hits. Behrends led the way in scoring with four RBI. The scoring started with a Richards single up the middle that advanced the runners to second and third. On a throwing error Behrends was able to cross the plate and take a 1-0 lead. Next, Sullivan brought home Madi Newman from second on an RBI single down the left field line. In the top half of the third, Behrends big day continued with a solo shot over the left field walk to make the score 3-0 Mavericks. The Peacocks answered with an RBI single up the middle from Sara Jessie to make the score 3-1. Behrends added another run to the Mavericks tally with an RBI single to center crossing Haley Forret across the plate. After nothing in the fifth, Newman and Hailey Forshee would add RBI singles and a two RBI double from Behrends gave the Mavericks 8-1 lead. Bracken closed out the game for the Mavericks sealing the 8-1 victory in game one.

GAME 2

McKayla Armbruster got the start for the Mavericks in game two. In four innings pitched, Armbruster gave up three earned runs on six hits with one strikeout and no walks in 18 batters faced. Kacy Nickerson pitched one inning in relief giving up four earned runs on three hits with two K's and two walks while facing nine batters. Bracken pitched two thirds of an inning of relief giving up four earned runs on two hits with no K's and two walks in six batters faced. Ward (19-3) got the win for the Mavericks after pitching two innings of relief giving up no runs on no hits with four k's while facing six batters.

Abby Buckman started for the Peacocks in game two. In one inning pitched, Buckman gave up seven earned runs on four hits with no K's and four walks while facing 11 batters. Rylee McGonigle (3-3) got the loss in game two after pitching seven innings in relief giving up five earned runs on eight hits with two K's and one walk while facing 31 batters.

The Mavericks bats opened the game up on fire. A pair of two RBI doubles from Richards and Ellie Tallman gave the Mavericks a 7-0 lead to start the contest. The Peacocks would get one run on an RBI single in the bottom half to make the score 7-1. After a scoreless second and third inning, Minnesota State added three more runs off of a SAC fly from Sullivan and a ground out RBI from Richards. Forshee capped off the scoring in the fourth with an RBI single to left scoring Behrends. The Peacocks once again got one run back after the onslaught this time with a solo shot from Katie Crogan. After four the Mavericks led 10-1. In the fifth, Beherends scored Forret with a single up the middle to extend the lead. This is where the Peacocks began their rally. Upper Iowa got two back in the bottom half with a pair of fielder choice plays that made the score 11-4. After the Mavericks fell in order, the Peacocks had a seven-run inning of their own capped off by a three homer from Crogan for her second of the game and tied the game at 11. Behrends in the top half of the eighth had her second solo shot of the day over the center field wall to give MSU a 12-11 lead. Ward stepped back into the circle and put the Peacocks down to lockdown the 12-11 victory.

The Mavericks return to the diamond on Friday as they host Minnesota Crookston in a doubleheader with first pitches slated for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

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