MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State Softball (3-1) split its two games Saturday Feb. 3 against the Lewis Flyers and the Emporia State Hornets. The Mavericks lost to the Flyers 6-2 and defeated the Hornets 2-1 in the second game. Freshman
Izzy Hycnar gave the Mavericks a 2-1 lead late in the game against ESU.
McKayla Armbruster pitched a complete game against the Hornets and had nine strikeouts.
Game 1 vs Lewis: Minnesota State, 2 Lewis, 6
W: Wondrasek (1-0) L: Oetzmann (1-1)
The Flyers threatened in the top of the first, with runners on second and third with one out, but Mavericks third baseman
Cheyenne Behrends turned a double play to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the inning,
Kylie Sullivan walked to get on first and stole second to put immediate pressure on Lewis. But, in an attempt to get to third base on a fly out, was thrown out at third base.
Lewis left two on base in the top of the second and Minnesota State left one on, after
Courtney Baxter reached on a two-out double.
Scoring didn't start until the top of the third, when the Flyers singled to lead off the inning. After stealing second, the baserunner scored on a single down the rightfield line, giving Lewis a 1-0 lead. The next batter reached on a fielder's choice and after her, a single was hit, loading the bases.
Anna Frafjod gave the Flyers a sizeable lead, crushing a double to left center, clearing the bases and giving Lewis a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth,
Maddie Oetzmann and
Chloe Brandt both walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Sullivan reached on a dropped fly ball by the Lewis centerfielder; both runners scored and Sullivan slid into third, cutting into the Flyers lead, 4-2.
Lewis responded immediately, putting runners on first and third with no outs.
Meghan Bontrager reached on a fielder's choice, scoring both baserunners, putting the Flyers back up by four. Lewis closed out the game, winning by a score of 6-2.
Oetzmann pitched three innings, gave up seven hits, one earned run and had one strikeout.
Brianne Stone pitched 2.1 innings, allowed four hits and two earned runs.
Baxter's double in the second inning was the only hit allowed by Lewis in the game. Minnesota State had five players reach base via walk.
Allie Wondrasek pitched a complete game, allowing one hit, two runs, neither of which were earned. Three Flyers had two-hit games.
Game 2 vs Emporia State: Minnesota State, 2 Emporia State, 1
W: Armbruster (2-0) L: VanAckeren (0-2)
The Hornets threatened early in the top of the first, with a lead off double down the right field line and a bunt-single, which resulted in runners on second and third with nobody out. After an ESU strikeout,
Alexis Dial fouled out to leftfield, allowing for the runner on third to tag and score.
McKayla Armbruster struck out the third out of the inning to keep the Hornets at bay, 1-0.
Tallman singled to right field and stole second, reaching third base on a wild throw down, but was unable to cross home.
Behrends singled to left field to start the bottom of the second for the Mavericks. After Baxter reached on a walk and a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third with one out,
Izzy Hycnar hit a short roller in front of the pitcher's circle. Behrends saw an opportunity to score and took off towards home but was called out at the plate.
Marina Carter dropped down a bunt on a squeeze play, scoring Baxter from third, tying the game at 1-1. The Hornets got out of the inning after allowing the one score.
After a three-up-three-down top of the inning, the Mavericks threatened to score again in the bottom of the third, with runners on second and third with two outs after a
Gianna Lara single and a fielder's choice. Emporia State got out of the inning unscathed, however after Baxter grounded out to the first baseman.
Tallman reached on an error in the bottom of the fifth but left early in an attempted steal and was called out. Lara doubled deep to right center, but Kessler flew out to center to end the inning.
Behrends reached on a walk to open the bottom of the sixth and advanced to third on two consecutive ground outs. Hycnar hit Behrends home on a double roped down the leftfield line to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead heading into the final inning.
Armbruster closed out the game, striking out the final batter to give Minnesota State the win. She pitched all seven innings, allowed one earned run and had nine punchouts in the circle for the Mavericks.
Lara went 2-3 at the plate, including her first extra base hit of the year. Hycnar had her second clutch RBI of the season against Emporia State.
"In our first game against Lewis, we didn't play our best ball and I think our youth showed in a few spots," said Mavericks head coach
Lori Meyer. "Lewis is a regional competitor from a year, so when you keep giving them opportunities, they will make things happen. When we went down in that game, I thought we got a little frustrated, out of sorts, but we are still learning how to respond to adverse situations. I thought we had at-bats where we stung the ball really well, they were just hit right to people."
Coach Meyer sang her praises for Hycnar after her second game-winning hit of the young season against Emporia State: "Izzy, wow, what an at-bat. To battle and not cave for an entire 11 pitch at-bat, that puts a lot of pressure on the pitcher. We were creating opportunities, it was just a matter of who was going to step up and be the star, make the big play. Today it was her." Meyer was also pleased with her aces' day in the circle, saying "[Armbruster] was solid on the mound, when she's confident, it puts everything else at ease."
Minnesota State closes out the MSU Dome Tournament tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 4. The Mavericks will play the Hornets of Emporia State again at 9:00 a.m. and takes on NSIC opponent Southwest Minnesota State at 1:30 p.m.
