Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (21-7, 3-1 NSIC) played host to the Vikings of Augustana (19-6, 3-1 NSIC) in a Saturday home doubleheader inside the Mavericks All-Sports Dome. In game one, the Vikings bats got the best of the Mavericks as they captured a 5-3 victory. In game two, Minnesota State avenged their loss in game one with a 4-1 victory to split the doubleheader with Augustana.
GAME 1
Mackenzie Ward (13-3) got the start in the circle for game one for the Mavericks. In a complete game, Ward allowed five earned runs on four hits. She had seven strikeouts and seven walks in 32 batters faced in the loss.
Ashley Mickschl (8-1) got the win and the start for the Vikings in game one. In five innings pitched, Mickschl gave up three runs, all of which were earned, on five hits. Mickschl had five strikeouts and one walk in 21 batters faced. Olivia Hazelbaker earned her second save of the season. In two innings of relief, Hazelbaker gave up no runs on two hits with one strikeout and no walks in eight batters faced.
Sydney Nelson led the Mavericks offense today as she drove in two runs on one hit. Nelson started the scoring off in the bottom half of the second with a two-run shot to right field bringing across Cheyenne Behrends in the process to give MSU 2-0 lead. Augustana led the Vikings offense with three RBI on one hit this afternoon. The Vikings answered back in the top of the third in a big way starting with a solo shot to center field from Mary Pardo. Augustana got the bases loaded on three walks from Ward. Gracey Brink put the Vikings ahead with a three-run triple giving them a 4-2 lead at the end of the third. Augustana added one more in the top of the fifth with a solo homerun to left field from Delnaey Young to extend the lead to 5-2. Kylie Sullivan earned an RBI single to bring home Courtney Baxter from second to make the score 5-3 Vikings. The Mavericks got two hits combined in the sixth and seventh inning but were not able to establish any threat and ultimately fell 5-3 in game one.
GAME 2
McKayla Armbruster (2-2) got the start in game two for the Mavericks in the win. In five innings pitched, Armbruster gave up one unearned run on four hits with one strikeout and zero walks while facing 20 batters. Katie Bracken earned her second save of the year pitching two innings of relief for the Mavericks. She allowed just one hit with no walks and one strikeout in seven batters faced.
Amber Elliott (6-2) started for the Vikings in the loss in game two. In five innings pitched, Elliott gave up three runs, one of which was earned, on four hits. She had two strikeouts and two walks in 23 batters faced. Hailey Houston gave up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout in one inning of relief.
After two and half scoreless innings to begin the game, Sydney Nielsen stepped to the plate with Baxter on second. Nielsen singled to left field bringing in the game's first run with Baxter coming across the plate to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. In the fourth the Vikings got on the board for the first time. After advancing a runner to third on a wild pitch Gracey Brink got an RBI single to bring home Tori Chute and tie the game at one. After a Hailey Forshee double moved Ellie Tallman to third in the bottom of the fourth, Tallman got under the catcher to score a run on a wild pitch with a close play at the plate. A Nielsen RBI double and a Baxter RBI single in the fifth and sixth inning gave the Mavericks a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh. The Maverick's defense was stout all game long racking up 21 putouts in the contest. Bracken forced three ground outs to finish the game and gave Minnesota State a 4-1 victory. Nielsen led the Mavericks offense in game two going two of three from the plate with two RBI.
The Mavericks return to the diamond tomorrow morning as they host the Wayne State Wildcats inside the Mavericks All-Sports Dome with first pitches set for 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
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