MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (32-10, 14-4 NSIC) played host to the Beavers of Bemidji State University (8-28, 5-11 NSIC) inside the Mavericks All-Sport Dome for weekend finale doubleheader. In game one, the Mavericks held a 1-0 lead the entire game to secure the victory. Game two, the Mavericks had to battle a tough Bemidji squad to earn the 2-0 win in game two.
GAME 1
McKayla Armbruster (4-5) got the start in the circle in the game one win for the Mavericks. In 6.2 innings pitched, Armbruster gave up no hits and no runs while striking out 11 with no walks while facing 23 batters. Katie Bracken pitched the final out on one pitch in the seventh.
Kaidron McClafferty (3-10) started for the Beavers in the game one loss. In a complete game, McClafferty allowed one run on one hit with one walk and strikeout in 21 batters faced.
Ellie Tallman got the Mavericks started in a hurry with a lead off triple. Cheyenne Behrends capitalized immediately with an RBI single to left field to give the Mavericks the 1-0 lead. With Armbruster's career high 11 K's and the Mavericks defense the Mavericks put down the first 15 batters from Bemidji State in order. Armbruster was efficient in her effort today in the circle as 69 of her 90 pitches were strikes. In the top half of the sixth the Beavers had their first runner in scoring position on an error after their first hit from Aimee Christenson. The Mavericks defense ended the threat with nice snag at second base from Tallman. Minnesota State fell in order in the bottom of the sixth before heading to the seventh. With two gone in the top half, Ashley Herold hit a drive to left field that nearly cleared the fence as it bounced off the yellow piping of the fence and back into play for a double. Bracken then entered the game and got the ground out on the first pitch to seal the victory 1-0 in game one.
GAME 2
Mackenzie Ward (21-3) got the start in the circle for the game two win. In a complete game, Ward allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in 25 batters faced. During her performance in the circle Ward became the second Maverick all-time to record 1,000 strikeouts in her career. The only other Maverick to accomplish this feat was Coley Ries (2013-17) where she recorded 1,481 strikeouts.
Stella Dolan (4-13) started for the Beavers in the game two loss. In a complete game, Dolan allowed two earned runs on two hits with four strikeouts while facing 26 batters.
It was a pitchers and defensive duel for the majority of game two as both teams held strong. Minnesota State had multiple opportunities in the early goings to capitalize with runners in scoring position. In the bottom of the third with Tallman on third and Newman on second the Beavers got Kylie Sullivan to ground out to retire the side. The Mavericks sat down 15 straight Beavers before allowing a base runner to get on via a hit with two gone in the top half of the sixth. The Mavericks broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the sixth as Torey Richards dropped a bunt that got Behrends across plate as she made it too first safely. With two down, Courtney Baxter added one more run for insurance with an RBI single to left field scoring Richards from third. In the top of the seventh, Bemidji started with a leadoff double but, Ward got her 1,000th career strikeout followed by two ground outs to seal the sweep of the Beavers 2-0.
Minnesota State returns to the diamond on Wednesday as they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to take on the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls. First pitches for the doubleheader are slated for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.
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