MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State (22-8, 2-2 NSIC) softball swept Northern State in an afternoon NSIC doubleheader at MSU All Sports Dome Saturday. The Mavericks took game one 5-3, then held off the Wolves 4-3 in game two to avenge Friday night's doubleheader loss to MSU Moorhead.
 
MSU continues conference play on the road Friday against University of Mary.
 
Game 1 vs Northern State: Minnesota State 5, Northern State -3
W: Oetzmann (10-1) L: Rux (3-4) S: Lopez (2)
 
Scoreless through two and a half innings, the Mavericks assembled a three-run third. Cheyenne Behrends started with a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Emma Dennison's bunt.
 
Marina Carter ran out a bunt single and Courtney Kessler singled up the middle to score Behrends. Then Ellie Tallman singled to right field and advanced to second on a late throw home. Carter and Kessler both scored for a 3-0 lead.
 
Northern State answered with a run in the top of the fourth on a pair of doubles. The Wolves tied it 3-3 in the fifth with three straight two-out hits. Claire Zbylut's double to centerfield scored two before Smith grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
 
The Mavericks loaded the bases in the fifth but Abby Rux worked out of the jam when Sullivan hit a sharp ground ball to first base.
 
With runners on second and third and one out in the sixth, Dennison laid down a squeeze bunt and the Wolves ran Baxter back to third and tagged her out. Dennison advanced to second and an errant throw into right field at the base, which allowed both Rhyan Fritz and Dennison to score.
 
Maddie Oetzmann (10-1) pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Mavericks, allowing just one hit to close out the game.
 
McKayla Armbruster earned a no-decision after she tossed 4.2 innings and surrendered three earned runs, six hits, and struck out three. Carter Marina went 2-for-3 at the plate for MSU.
 
Abby Rux suffered the loss in relief after throwing 3.0 innings and allowing two runs (zero earned) with two strikeouts and one walk.
 
Game 2 vs Northern State: Minnesota State 4, Northern State -3
W: Oetzmann (11-1) L: Wanner (4-3) S: Armbruster (2)
 
Minnesota State never trailed and Northern State stranded nine runners as the Mavericks held on to win game two of Saturday's doubleheader 4-3.
 
Ellie Tallman and Kylie Sullivan posted multi-hit games and Sullivan's first-inning triple helped MSU get on the board, scoring Kessler from second base.
 
The Mavericks strung together four singles for a three-run third inning. Tallman, Gianna Lara and Sullivan all collected runs batted in for a 4-0 edge.
 
Northern State struck back in the top of the fifth. Richardson took Oetzmann's pitch deep to right field for two runs. Then Owens doubled to left to score Wolf from second. Ford popped out to shortstop to end the rally.
 
Chloe Brandt pitched a scoreless sixth and picked up two outs in the seventh. With the tying run on first, McKayla Armbruster entered and struck out Owens to collect her second save.