CLERMONT, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team ended its Florida trip with a pair of wins Thursday morning as the Mavericks defeated Franklin Pierce 12-0 in five innings and Lynn 2-0.

Minnesota State now owns an 11-7 record on the season.

Game 1 Recap

The Mavericks began the day with a 12-0 win in five innings against Franklin Pierce.

Sophomore Sophia Del Vecchio (4-1) earned the win as she allowed just two hits in four innings. Sabrina Gonzalez (3-1) took the loss as she allowed five runs, on seven hits, in three innings.

The Mavericks wasted no time in jumping out in front as junior Kylie Sullivan notched a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first for the Mavericks. Freshman Ava Smithson also scored in the first as she crossed the plate via a ground out from senior Sydney Nielsen.

Sullivan notched another solo home run in the second inning to put the Mavericks up 3-0, before RBI-singles from freshman Gianna Lara and Del Vecchio put MSU up 5-0 after three innings.

The Mavericks then exploded for seven runs on seven hits in the fourth inning to go up 12-0. Lara notched a two-run single to center field, while Del Vecchio recorded a two-run double to right center. Nielsen, sophomore Emma Dennison and junior Ellie Tallman also recorded an RBI in the inning.

Sophomore Brianne Stone came on to pitch for the Mavericks in the fifth and set the side down in order to secure the 12-0 win.

Lara and Del Vecchio each drove in three runs, while both Sullivan and Smithson notched two hits and scored two runs.
 
Game 2 Recap

Minnesota State finished its day with a 2-0 win over the Lynn Fighting Knights.

Junior McKayla Armbruster (7-4) earned the win as she allowed just six hits while striking out 10 batters. Armbruster set down the first 11 batters she faced. Maddie Prickett (5-2) took the loss as she gave up two runs, one earned, in seven innings while giving up five hits.

The first four innings of the game saw neither team advance a runner beyond second base. With both teams scoreless into the top of the fifth, Tallman struck out but advanced to first on a wild pitch to open the inning. Tallman then stole second, before Lara reached first via an error. After a sac bunt moved the runners to second and third, junior Sydney Nelson ended the scoreless tie with a two-run double to right center to put the Mavericks up 2-0.

Lynn managed to get five hits in the final three innings but the Knights could not get a run across the plate as Armbruster completed her third shutout of the season.

Nelson led the Mavericks with two hits and two RBI against Lynn.

Minnesota State continues its season in St. Joseph, Mo., as it takes part in the three-day Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic. MSU opens the weekend on Friday, March 17, with a pair of games against UW-Parkside (10:00 a.m.) and Northwest Missouri State (2:00 p.m.).