MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State softball (4-1) wins both of its games against Emporia State (1-5) and Southwest Minnesota State (1-2) to close out the MSU Dome Tournament. McKayla Armbruster pitched a one-hit shutout against the Hornets. The Mavericks retook the lead against the Mustangs with an eight-run fourth inning. Freshman Izzy Hycnar hit her second walk-off of her young career against SMSU, her third game-winning hit of the tournament.
 
Game 1 vs Emporia State: Minnesota State, 8 Emporia State, 0 | 6 Innings
W: Armbruster (3-0) L: Harrison (0-1)
 
Kylie Sullivan hit a leadoff single to get the first inning started for the Mavericks. After stealing second, Sullivan was knocked home by Ellie Tallman who singled up the middle. Tallman scored later in the inning, sliding under the tag at home after Courtney Kessler also hit a single to centerfield, putting Minnesota State up 2-0 after one.
 
The Mavericks challenged the Hornets in the second as well, with runners on first and second with one out. Sullivan knocked the runner on second home on a ground rule double hit to leftfield. Marina Carter scored on a fielder's choice, sliding under the tag at home, putting the Mavericks up 4-0. Minnesota State would strike again before the inning was out; Gianna Lara flew out to left, but it was deep enough for Sullivan to tag and score. Kessler would get her second RBI single of the day, hitting home Tallman to put MSU up 6-0.
 
MSU threatened again in the bottom of the third, after Carter advanced Emma Dennison and Izzy Hycnar to second and third on a fielder's choice. Emporia State was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
 
The Hornets got their first baserunner in the top of the fourth when Abbey Ward singled on a bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error. Armbruster and the Mavericks were able to exit the inning without giving up a run, maintaining their 6-0 advantage.
 
Tallman singled through the left side to lead off the Mavericks' half of the sixth inning. After stealing second, Tallman scored on a Lara single up the middle. Lara was thrown out at second base on a fielder's choice; Behrends reached and advanced to second on a throwing error attempting to turn a double play. Courtney Baxter closed out the game, hitting a single to leftfield, scoring Behrends. The Mavericks won 8-0 after six innings.
 
Armbruster pitched an excellent game for Minnesota State. She pitched six innings of one-hit, no run baseball. She had four strikeouts and zero walks.
 
There were three Mavericks with multiple RBIs; Tallman, Lara and Kessler each had two RBIs against ESU. Tallman also scored three runs. Sullivan went 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Both Hycnar and Carter went 2-3 at the plate.
 
 
Game 2 vs Southwest Minnesota State: Minnesota State, 11 SMSU, 3 | 6 Innings
W: Brandt (1-0) L: Miller (1-1)
 
Mavericks starter Oetzmann got into trouble early, loading the bases with nobody out. The Mustangs scored three runs on a fielder's choice and two ground outs. Minnesota State got out of the first half of the inning, down 3-0.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Sullivan led off with a double to center and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt from Tallman. Kessler knocked Sullivan home on a single to left and Kessler scored on an error, making the score 3-2, Mustangs.
 
The bottom of the fourth was the next time either team scored a run. Behrends walked to lead off the inning for MSU. Baxter hit a ground-rule double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Behrends tied the game on a wild pitch. Ella Shulz doubled to left center, scoring Baxter from third. Hycnar singled, moving Shulz to third. Carter reached on a fielder's choice, as Shulz would be thrown out at home for the first out of the inning. Sullivan singled to right field; Hycnar found herself in a pickle in between third and home before getting tagged for the second out.
 
Carter scored on a pass ball, giving the Mavericks a two-run lead. Tallman walked to load the bases, leading to a Lara double to right center field, scoring Sullivan. After a Kessler walk, Behrends, in her second at bat of the inning, hit a bases-clearing triple to give Minnesota State a six-run advantage. She would score on a Baxter single, putting the Mavericks a 10-3.
 
Minnesota State threatened to score again in the bottom of the fifth, putting runners on second and third, but a sharply hit ball by Lara was caught by the SMSU leftfielder, ending the inning.
 
After a clean top half of the inning, MSU grounded out in its first two at bats of the sixth inning. Southwest Minnesota State pitcher, Morgyn Otte, walked two-straight batters to put a runner in scoring position. With a 2-2 count, Hycnar smacked a single up the middle, scoring the runner from second, ending the game, 11-3. It was Hycnar's second walk-off of the tournament and her third game-winning hit of her young career.
 
Oetzmann pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit and three walks. Freshman Chloe Brandt only allowed one hit in her 4.2 innings of relief. She gets the first win of her career.
 
Leadoff hitter Sullivan went 2-3, reaching base three times and scoring two runs. Lara, Kessler and Shulz all hit 1-3 with one RBI against the Mustangs. Behrends batted 1-2 and drove in three runs with her triple. Hycnar went 2-4 with an RBI and Baxter was 2-3, also with driving in one run.
 
"I thought [Armbruster] was really great today," said Mavericks head coach Lori Meyer. "And [Oetzmann], while she only gave up one hit, couldn't quite find her rhythm. Brandt has been waiting for her opportunity on the mound and I thought she was great. She did just enough to keep the hitter off balance which gave us routine ball that we can work with."
 
Meyer was excited by the offensive production her team on the third day of the tournament: "Anytime you can score 19 runs over two games, you have to be pleased. The top of the lineup, man; The were raking this second game. We had some balls that I thought were going over the fence that didn't. [Behrends] clears the bases with her triple. [Sullivan] really set the tone right away in the first inning. When she hit that laser, I thought 'Yeah, that will get us going.'"
 
The Mavericks now have two weeks off before returning to action. Minnesota State will travel down to Kan. for the Washburn Invite, beginning Feb. 23, where the team will take on Newman, Emporia State, Southwest Baptist, Missouri Western, Central Missouri and Pittsburg State.