Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (22-8, 4-2 NSIC) hosted the Wayne State Wildcats (4-23, 1-5 NSIC) in another NSIC matchup to wrap-up the weekend. In game one, Minnesota State's bats came to life from the jump as they cruised to an 8-0 victory in five innings. In game two, it was a defensive affair as the Wildcats prevailed with a 2-1 win.
GAME 1
Mackenzie Ward (14-3) got the start in the circle today for the Mavericks in the win. In four innings pitched, Ward allowed no runs on one hit. She had six strikeouts and one walk in 14 batters faced. Kacy Nickerson pitched one inning of relief allowing no runs or hits while earning two strikeouts while facing three batters.
Hadley Chvatal (2-13) started for the Wildcats in the loss today. In one inning pitched, Chvatal gave up six earned runs on five hits. She had no strikeouts and two walks in 10 batters faced. Grace Lucka pitched three innings in relief of Chvatal allowing two earned runs on three hits. She had one strikeout and five walks while facing 17 batters.
Torey Richards and Courtney Baxter led the Mavericks offense in game one with each of them earning two RBI each. Minnesota State wasted no time getting things going as Madi Newman homered over the center field wall with a full count. With runners in scoring position Richards grounded out but, was able to bring home Kylie Sullivan from third. Now with Sydney Nielsen on third, Cheyenne Behrends continued the Mavericks strong start with an RBI single to left field. Again, with two runners in scoring position, Hailey Forshee earned an RBI with a ground out to the short stop. Baxter stepped to the plate with Ellie Tallman and Sydney Nelson on base and ripped a double to left center to give the Mavericks a 6-0 lead after one. Minnesota State's pitching and defense held the Wildcats to just one hit and one walk all game long. In the second, Richards got her second RBI of the day when she grounded out to the short stop and brought Sullivan across the plate to extend their lead to 7-0. With no hits and only two walks in the third they moved to the fourth. The Mavericks put the Wildcats down in order in the top of the fourth. Tallman got on base via walk and used some crafty base running to advance to third with a steal and advancing on a wild pitch. Nelson capitalized and brough home Tallman on an RBI single down the left side. Nickerson stepped in for Ward and earned two strikeouts and a fly out to end the game with an 8-0, five inning victory.
GAME 2
McKayla Armbruster (2-3) started game two for the Mavericks in the loss. In four innings pitched, Armbruster gave up two unearned runs on three hits. She had no strikeouts or walks in 16 batters faced. Katie Bracken pitched three innings in relief of Armbruster giving up no hits or runs and two strikeouts. In nine batters faced.
Sami Felt (1-5) started for the Wildcats in game two in the win. In a complete game, Felt gave up one earned run on three hits. She had no strikeouts and five walks in 28 batters faced.
After no hits through the first two and a half innings, Wayne State got going on a single from Krystofiak in the top of the third. She advanced to second on a wild pitch shortly after. Riley Holmberg then stepped to the plate and earned an RBI with a single to center field. With runners on the corners now, Kim Vidlak stepped to the plate and extended the Wildcat lead to 2-0 after another RBI single to right field. In the bottoms of the third, Emma Dennison got the first hit of the game for the Mavericks with a single to the left side. Baxter advanced Dennison to second on a SAC bunt. Newman followed up the bunt with a single and promptly moved to second. With runners in scoring position, Sullivan grounded out but, brought home Dennison in the process. Nielsen grounded out to end the inning as the Mavericks cut into the Wildcat lead. There were no hits until the bottom of the fifth where the Mavericks loaded the bases on two walks and a single with two gone. Nielsen had a chance to tie it or take the lead but grounded out to the third basemen. From there, there was nine straight outs that brought us to the bottom of the seventh. Tallman started things off with a walk and was moved to second with a SAC bunt from Dennison. Baxter walked next and that put runners on first and second with one out. Newman stepped to the plate and grounded into the double play to end the game. Wildcats defeated the Mavericks 2-1 in game two.
The Mavericks return to action as they hit the road for four consecutive NSIC doubleheaders. The Mavericks start the week off against Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn., with first pitches slated for 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., on Wednesday.
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