CLAREMORE, Okla. --- The #17 ranked Minnesota State softball team (48-14) entered the final day of the NCAA Central Region Tournament taking on #4 Rogers State University (51-10). The Mavericks needing to win just one game to advance, fell to the Hillcats in two games. Minnesota State lost in a 15-inning marathon 8-2. This was the second longest game the Mavericks have been a part of with the first being on May 1, 2016, where MSU defeated Upper Iowa 2-1 in 16 innings. With both teams facing elimination now, Rogers State jumped out to an early lead in the second and held on to advance to the super regional with a final score of 4-0.
GAME 1
Mackenzie Ward (28-6) started for the Mavericks in the 15-inning battle. In 14 and third innings pitched, Ward allowed seven runs, six of which were earned, on eight hits. Ward had 14 strikeouts and 10 walks in 63 batters faced while throwing over 200 pitches in the contest. Katie Bracken finished the game pitching the final two outs allowing one unearned run and no hits in five batters faced.
Andrea Morales (32-4) started for the Hillcats in the game one win. In a complete game, Morales gave up two earned runs on 10 hits with seven strikeouts and four walks in 60 batters faced.
Through two and a half innings of play each team was able to muster up one hit a piece. Torey Richards scored the game's first run with an RBI single up the middle scoring Cheyenne Behrends in the process. The Hillcats looked to answer back in the top of the fourth with a pair of runners in scoring position with two gone. Ward thwarted the advance with her third K of inning retiring the side.
After falling in order in the bottom of the fourth, Rogers State found a way to knot the game up at 1-1 with an RBI single down the left field line from Callie Yellin. The bottom half saw Madi Newman put Ellie Ellie Tallman in scoring position with a SAC bunt but, MSU was unable to capitalize as the next two batters flew out and then struck out to retire the side.
After one hit total from both teams through the sixth and the seventh, Rogers State scored a run on an RBI ground out to Sydney Nelson. However, in the bottom half of the eighth Newman swiftly tied the game back up with a solo shot over the left center wall making the score 2-2. After a ninth inning that saw one base runner, Rogers State moved a runner to second after a walk with two gone. Ward and the Mavericks got out of another jam with a ground out to Behrends at third.
Minnesota State in the bottom of the 11th had a big opportunity to end the game with bases loaded and no outs. Courtney Baxter reached on a throwing error to lead the offense off. Sydney Nielsen bunt singled to give the Mavericks runners on first and second. Hailey Forshee loaded the bases as she took four balls for the walk. Rogers State narrowly escaped defeat with a pair of fly outs and a line out to retire the side.
The Hillcats in the top of the 12th got two runners on via walk with two gone. Nielsen made the play on a foul ball behind the plate for the final out of the side. The next 12 batters in the game fell in order as the score remained tied at two heading to the top of 15th. With a runner on first and one gone in Makayla Bowman broke the tie with a two-run shot over the left field wall giving the Hillcats a 4-2 lead. Rogers State added four more runs before the Mavericks could get out of the side extending their lead to 8-2. The Mavericks fell in order in the bottom half and fell to the Hillcats 8-2 in the first game.
GAME 2
Mackenzie Ward (28-7) started for the Mavericks in the circle for the elimination game after throwing to 63 batters in game one. In two innings pitched, Ward allowed two unearned runs on one hit with one strikeout facing eight batters. McKayla Armbruster finished the game pitching five innings allowing two earned runs on one hit with one strikeout and two walks in 18 batters faced.
M'Kayla Hillman (15-6) started for the Hillcats in game two. In a complete game, Hillman allowed no runs on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 28 batters faced.
The MSU defense and Ward began the game with three straight ground outs and swiftly moved to the bottom half. Minnesota State had an instant scoring threat after a lead off single from Ellie Tallman and a double to left field from Newman. Again, the Mavericks could not cash in on the opportunity as the next two batters struck out and ended the inning with a ground out stranding both runners in scoring position.
In the top of the second and two gone, the Hillcats had a runner reach on a fielding error to give them their first base runner of the game. Elexis Watson stepped to the plate and scored the game's first runs with a two-run home run over the left field wall giving the Hillcats a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota State in the bottom half of the second and third fell in order bringing them to the top of the fourth. There, with a runner on first and one gone Makayla Bowman hit the game's second two run shot to left field giving the Hillcats a 4-0 lead. The Mavericks had another chance to score runs as they had Courtney Baxter on second and Torey Richards on third but, the inning ended on a fly out stranding another pair of runners.
In the bottom of the fifth Minnesota State left two runners in scoring position again as the score remained 4-0 in favor Hillcats after five. Minnesota State retired the side in order in the sixth as they looked to get on the board in the bottom half. With two gone Baxter earned a single to the left side but that was all the Mavericks could get. Both teams went down in order in the seventh as the Hillcats ended the Mavericks central region tournament run. Minnesota State finishes the year 48-14 and earned their 18th NCAA appearance in team history.
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