MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (30-10, 12-4 NSIC) played host to the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston (12-27, 3-11 NSIC) in a home doubleheader inside the Mavericks All-Sports Dome Friday afternoon. In game one, the Maverick bats were alive and well as they drove in seven runs for the shutout victory 7-0. In game two, the Mavericks offense remained potent as they claimed victory with a final score of 6-1

GAME 1

Mackenzie Ward (20-3) got the start in the circle in the two-hit shutout win. In a complete game, Ward gave up no runs on two hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks while facing 24 batters.

Thayda Houser (5-8) started for the Golden Eagles in the loss. In 4.2 innings pitched, Houser gave up six runs on eight hits with one strikeout in 22 batters faced. Nicol Deden and Moreno Engelbrecht combined for 1.1 innings of relief allowing just one run on no hits with one walk while facing six batters.

After a scoreless first, the Mavericks got to work as Brianne Stone started the scoring off with an RBI single to right field scoring Torey Richards. Haley Forret added another in the second with a SAC fly to left field to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead after two. After Ward and the Mavericks defense shut Crookston down, Cheyenne Behrends added a third run on a SAC fly to left field scoring Ellie Tallman. After another one, two, three inning from MSU, Richards added another run to the total with a solo shot over the center field wall to extend the Maverick lead to 4-0. After the second consecutive clean inning, Madi Newman and Behrends added two more runs with an RBI single and another SAC fly for Behrends to go up 6-0. Tallman added another in the bottom half of the sixth and the MSU defense did the rest. Minnesota State cruised to victory in game one, 7-0

GAME 2

McKayla Armbruster (3-5) got the start in the circle in the game two win. In five innings pitched, Armbruster gave up one earned run on four hits with one K and one walk while facing 20 batters. Katie Bracken pitched two innings of relief giving up no runs on no hits with no walks or strikeouts in facing six batters.

Evie Stuck (6-12) started for the Golden Eagles in game two in the circle. In five innings pitched, Stuck gave up six earned runs on seven hits. She had one K and one walk in 26 batters faced. Nicole Deden pitched one innings of relief giving up no hits or runs with no K's and no walks while facing three batters.

The Mavericks offense got right to work in the first. Newman was able to scoot across the plate on a fielder's choice play that gave MSU the 1-0 lead. Kylie Sullivan added to the first inning lead with an RBI single scoring Behrends to make the score 2-0 after the first. After a quick top half of the second, Newman added another run to the tally scoring Courtney Baxter from third to make it a 3-0 lead. In the top of the third, the Golden Eagles checked one across the plate themselves after an RBI double to right center from Alina Avalos. After three K's looking from Armbruster in the top of the fourth, Minnesota State added the final three runs of the game. It started with an RBI single from Hailey Forret scoring Ella Schulz. Newman went on to double scoring Forret and Behrends wrapped-up the scoring with a ground out scoring Tallman. Armbruster, Bracken, and the Mavericks defense put down nine straight outs to seal the sweep of Crookston, 6-1.

The Mavericks return to action tomorrow as they host the Beavers of Bemidji State inside the Mavericks All-Sports dome with first pitches slated for 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., respectively.

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