MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (24-8, 6-2 NSIC) played host to Southwest Minnesota State (11-20, 3-5 NSIC) after a site reversal to the Mavericks All-Sports Dome Wednesday afternoon. The Mavericks took game one in a tightly contested affair that saw MSU prevail 2-1. In game two, the Mavericks took control early and fended off a late Mustangs rally to win 5-3.
GAME 1
Mackenzie Ward(15-3) got the start in circle this morning in the win. In a complete game, Ward racked up 10 strikeouts and zero walks allowing just one unearned run on three hits while facing 25 batters.
Shelby Bloemendaal (6-6) started for the Mustangs this morning in game one. In six innings pitched, Bloemendaal gave up two earned runs on six hits while striking out seven Maverick batters and walking two in 27 batters faced. Morgyn Otte pitched one inning of relief allowing one hit and one walk and earning one strikeout in five batters faced.
It was a tightly contested game between the Mavericks and Mustangs. Both teams combined for just 10 hits in the contest. Madi Newman got the Mavericks offense going right off the jump with a single to left center. Shortly after Newman stole second. Ellie Tallman would earn a walk in the next at bat. Kylie Sullivan stepped to the plate and doubled up the middle to drive in the first run of the game. The Mavericks stranded two runners on base but took the lead 1-0. It was a defensive battle throughout the majority of the game. The Mavericks had multiple chances to extend the lead as they left nine runners on base during the contest. Emily Tatur for the Mustangs got on base via a throwing error from Ward and would be driven in by Lileya Kebos with a single up the middle to knot the game up at one. Minnesota State quickly responded in the top half of the fifth. With two gone and Tallman on second, freshman Cheyenne Behrends singled up the middle to bring home Tallman and give the Mavericks the go ahead run, 2-1. In the top of the seventh, Minnesota State had an opportunity to extend their lead but a close play at the plate saw Newman get thrown out. With two down Torey Richards lined out to the short stop to end the threat. In the bottom half of the seventh Ward got two K's and a pop out to close out the game with a 2-1 for the Mavericks.
GAME 2
McKayla Armbruster got the start I game to for the Mavericks, in three innings pitched, Armbrsuter gave up two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk while facing 15 batters. Katie Bracken (6-2) got the win for the Mavericks this afternoon. In four innings pitched Bracken gave up one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts in 15 batters faced.
Karlie Miller (4-9) started game two for the Mustangs in the loss. In a complete game, Miller gave up five runs, two of which were earned, on five hits. Miller had eight strikeouts and six walks in 32 batters faced.
After two scoreless innings to begin the game, the Mavericks racked up three runs in the top of the third. With a pickle on the third base line, the Mustangs pitcher committed a throwing error to the third baseman that allowed both Sullivan and Tallman reach home and put the Mavericks up 2-0. Courtney Baxter added to the lead in the third with a SAC fly to center field that brought home Richards to make the score 3-0 in favor of Minnesota State. With one down and a runner on second the Mustangs struck back with a two-run homer from Bailey Johnson to make the score 3-2. Later in the sixth as both teams settled in after the third, Baxter moved Kacy Nickerson to second on a SAC bunt. Hailey Forshee capitalized on the runner in scoring position with an RBI single up the middle improving the lead to 4-2. Sullivan added some assurance with an RBI single in the top half of the seventh with a 5-2 lead heading to the bottom half. The Mustangs were able to score a run in the bottom half, but Bracken and the defense thwarted any further damage and held on to win 5-3.
The Mavericks return to action Saturday as they head to Minnesota Duluth to take on the Bulldogs with first pitches slated for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.
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