CLERMONT, Fla. --- Minnesota State splits its games in Clermont, Fla., Monday morning as it fell to Saginaw Valley State 5-4 in nine innings, before defeating Ashland 4-3.

Minnesota State now owns a 9-5 record on the season.

Game 1 Recap

Minnesota State began the day falling to the Saginaw Valley State Eagles 5-4 in nine innings.

Junior McKayla Armbruster (6-2) took the loss as she gave up five runs, one earned, in 8.1 innings while striking out four batters. Alyssa Muench (5-0) earned the win as she threw 4.2 inning in relief while allowing two unearned runs.

MSU got the scoring going right away in the top of the first. Junior Madi Newman led off the inning with a single and then stole second. Sophomore Cheyenne Behrends then drove in Newman with an RBI-double to right center to put the Mavericks up 1-0.

The Cardinals managed to tie the score in the bottom of the second. Alexis Gills took advantage of a dropped foul ball and tripled to right field. Gill eventually scored on a two-out triple by Maddie Campanga to tie the score at 1-1. SVSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third as the Cardinals took advantage of an error in right field.

The Mavericks managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth. Freshman Gianna Lara led off with a double to right center. Freshman Tuscany Ballot came on to run for Lara and moved over to third on a sac bunt, before junior Sydney Nelson drove her in with a single to center field.

The game remained tied 2-2 heading into the eighth as the international tied breaker rule was put into effect. Junior Ellie Tallman drove in Behrends with a single to left center in the top of the eighth to put MSU up 3-2. Sarah Gersch managed to tie the game in the bottom of the eight with a single to left field to send the game into the ninth tied 3-3.

MSU managed to go up 4-3 in the top of the ninth as Nelson drove in freshman KK Laux with a fielder's choice. SVSU was able to rally in the bottom of the ninth however to win the game 5-4. The Cardinals scored their two runs via a single to right field and a wild pitch to win the game.

Nelson finished with two RBI, while junior Kylie Sullivan, Tallman and Behrends each notched two hits.
 
Game 2 Recap

Minnesota State finished the day with a 4-3 win over the Ashland Eagles.

Sophomore Sophia Del Vecchio (3-1) earned the win for the Mavericks as she allowed three runs, one earned, in five innings. Sophomore Brianne Stone earned the save as she allowed no runs and no hits in two innings. Kayla Ruperto took the loss as she allowed four runs, two earned, in 4.2 innings.

The Eagles jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. Lily Rockwell drove in a run with an RBI-single in the first inning, before Kaitlyn Carney notched a sacrifice fly to put the Eagles up 2-0. In the top of the second Jordyn Severns put Ashland up 3-0 with an RBI-double to left center.

In the bottom of the second the Mavericks responded two runs of their own. Sullivan drove in MSU's first run with a double to left center, before sophomore Ella Schulz drove in MSU's second run with a sacrifice fly.

The Mavericks scored two more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead. A fielder's choice and an error plated senior Sydney Nelson, before Behrends scored on a ground out to shortstop.
The Mavericks pitchers stranded five runners on base through the final four innings to lock down the 4-3 win for MSU.

Sullivan finished with two hits and two RBI.

Minnesota State continues its season on Tuesday as it takes on Northwood (10:15 a.m. CST) and Grand Valley State (1:00 p.m. CST) in Clermont, Fla.