MANKAKTO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team opened its NSIC schedule Tuesday with a split against Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears took the first game 8-5, before the Mavericks won the second game 5-4.

MSU now owns a 12-8 record, including a 1-1 NSIC record. CSP owns a 15-12 record, including a 1-1 conference record.

Game 1 Recap

Minnesota State began the doubleheader with an 8-5 loss to the Golden Bears.

Bryanna Olson (10-6) picked up the win for CSP as she allowed five runs in seven innings, while striking out eight. Junior McKayla Armbruster (7-5) took the loss as she gave up six runs, five earned, in five innings while striking out seven.

The Mavericks jumped in front right away in the top of the first as junior Ellie Tallman notched an RBI-triple, before a ground out from freshman Ava Smithson drove in Tallman for the second run. CSP would answer with the next three runs as Dani Sharum notched a two-run home run in the second inning, before a solo home run from Clara Heislen in the third put CSP up 3-2.

An RBI-double from senior Sydney Nielsen tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth, but the Golden Bears answered right back in the bottom of the inning as an RBI-single from Jacey Defries put CSP up 4-3. The Golden Bears then added four more runs in the sixth, including a three run home run from Alexus Houston, to go up 8-3.

Smithson notched a two-run home run in the seventh, but the Mavericks would get no closer as CSP held on for the 8-5 win.

Tallman, Smithson and Nielsen each notched two hits in the opening game.


Game 2 Recap

The Mavericks finished the day with a 5-4 win in game two against the Golden Bears.

Sophomore Brianne Stone (1-0) earned the win in relief as she allowed just one hit in 2.2 innings. Erica McCullough (4-3) took the loss as she gave up five runs in six innings. Armbruster picked up her second save of the season as she struck out two in one inning.

CSP struck first in the bottom of the first as an RBI-single from Sydney Pelzer put the Golden Bears up 1-0. The fourth inning would see each team score three runs as CSP held a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Emma Dennison notched a three-run home run for the Mavericks, while Taylor Griffin and Heislen notched a one run single and a two run double, respectively.

An RBI-double from Nielsen in the top of the sixth would tie the game at 4-4, before Smithson put the Mavericks up 5-4 with an RBI-single in the top of the seventh. The Golden Bears managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Armbruster would get the final out to secure the 5-4 win for the Mavericks.

Tallman and sophomore Ella Schulz each notched three hits, while Smithson and Dennison finished with two.

Minnesota State continues its season on the road this Saturday as it takes on the Wayne State Wildcats. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.