MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team splits its home doubleheader against Upper Iowa Tuesday as the Mavericks defeated the Peacock 5-3 in game one, before falling in game two 6-4.
MSU now owns a 19-13 record, including an 8-6 NSIC record. UIU now owns a 14-17 record, including a 6-7 conference record.
Game 1 Recap
Minnesota State began the day with a 5-3 win in game one.
Junior
McKayla Armbruster (11-7) earned the win as she gave up three runs in seven innings, while striking out eight batters. Rylee McGonigle (3-4) took the loss as she gave up four runs in four innings of work.
The Mavericks got the first run of the game in the bottom of the second as junior
Madi Newman led off the inning with a triple. She was then driven in by sophomore
Cheyenne Behrends with a sacrifice fly to put MSU up 1-0.
The Peacocks then rallied for three for three runs on four hits in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. Samantha Jessie drove in two with a triple, before Laila Pelds drove in Jessie with a single. MSU would answer right back in its half of the third as junior
Ellie Tallman singled with one out, before freshman
Ava Smithson homered to right field to tie the game at 3-3.
MSU would add a run in the fourth off a sacrifice bunt from junior
Sydney Nelson, before a sacrifice fly from
Sydney Nielsen in the fifth put the Mavericks up 5-3. Armbruster would not allow a base runner through the final four innings as the Mavericks secured the 5-3 win.
Smithson finished with two RBI and two runs scored.
Game 2 Recap
MSU finished the day with a 6-4 loss in game two.
Junior
Kacy Nickerson (3-3) took the loss as she allowed four runs, three earned, in 2.2 innings. Delaney Vetter (5-5) picked up the win as she allowed one unearned run in 4.1 innings in relief.
After three innings, UIU held a 4-3 lead. Kylie Doty drove in two with an RBI-double, while a triple from Ari Charles drove in one more for the Peacocks. Smithson and Tallman each recorded RBI-singles for the Mavericks.
The Peacocks added two more runs in the top of the fourth to take a 6-3 lead. Two Peacocks, including Doty and Rae VanMilligan notched RBI-singles for the Peacocks.
The Mavericks managed to score a run in the bottom of the fourth after a groundout from Nielsen but they would get no closer as the Peacocks held on to the 6-4 win.
Minnesota State begins a four-game road trip this Saturday as it takes on Bemidji State. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
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