CLAREMORE, Okla. --- The Minnesota State softball team (47-12) defeated the Ichabods of Washburn University (45-14) in the first game of the opening day of the NCAA Central Region Tournament on the back of Mackenzie Ward and the MSU defense with a final score of 1-0.

Mackenzie Ward (29-4) got the start in the circle for the Mavericks. In a complete game, Ward allowed just two hits and one walk to go along with seven strikeouts in the shutout while facing 24 batters.

Jaycee Ginter (28-4) started for the Ichabods in the loss this afternoon. In a complete game, Ginter allowed one earned run on five hits and two walks while facing 25 batters. Ginter had seven K's in her effort.

It was clear from the start that this was going to be a defensive and pitchers battle as the first hit came in the bottom of the third with an Ellie Tallman bunt single for the Mavericks. Minnesota State wasn't able to capitalize on the baserunner with two gone. In the top of the fourth, the Ichabods recorded their first hit of the contest with one gone with a single from Paige Robbins but, Ward ended any further advances with back-to-back strikeouts. The bottom half saw MSU get their second baserunner on with a walk from Torey Richards, but nothing materialized from it. In the top of the fifth the Mavericks saw Washburn get their first runner into scoring position after a SAC bunt moved the runner to second. Ward and the defense ended the threat with a strikeout and a pop out.

In the bottom half of the fifth, the Mavericks broke the deadlock to score the game's first run. With one gone, Hailey Forshee started things off with a single to left field. With two outs now in the bottom half, Tallman and Madi Newman got on base as they both were hit by pitches to load the bases. With Cheyenne Behrends at the plate, Minnesota State looked to capitalize. Behrends earned her 39th RBI of the season with a single through the left side of the Ichabod defense to score the go ahead run and  give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.

Minnesota State and Ward allowed just one more hit through the sixth and the seventh to seal the victory in the opening game of the NCAA Central Region Tournament with a final score of 1-0.

The Mavericks await the victor of game two today between Rogers State and Winona State and will square off against the winner tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. in Claremore, Okla., on the campus of Rogers State University.

-30-