MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State softball picked up a pair of shutout road victories Saturday at Minot State. McKayla Armbruster tossed a four-hitter in game one for a 2-0 win. Then Maddie Oetzmann and Chloe Brandt combined to allow just three hits in a 4-0 shutout in game two inside the Minot Air-Supported Dome.
 
Minnesota State (26-8, 6-2 NSIC) extended its win streak to six straight games and continues conference play with a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 2 versus Sioux Falls at MSU Softball Complex – The Diamond in Mankato.
 
Game 1 at Minot State: Minnesota State 2, Minot State 0
W: Armbruster (11-4) L: Floyd (3-3)
 
Both teams pitched three scoreless innings before the Mavericks struck for a pair in the top of the fourth. Ellie Tallman started the rally when she reached on an error at second base. Gianna Lara singles to right center and Kylie Sullivan doubled down the right field line to drive in both base runners. Sullivan has 19 runs driven in this season and went 2-for-3 on the day.
 
Armbruster faced four hitters in the seventh, getting Abbey Kelley to line into a double play at first base to end the contest.
 
Game 2 at Minot State: Minnesota State 4, Minot State 0
W: Oetzmann (13-1) L: Gabi Dawyduk (4-4) S: Brandt (1)
 
A three-run second was all the Mavericks needed in game two in their second straight clean sheet at Minot State. MSU sent eight to the plate in the half inning starting with a bunt single by Sullivan. Courtney Baxter then singled through the right side and Rhyan Fritz reached on a fielder's choice with Sullivan out at third base. Cheyenna Behrends followed with a single to center field to score Baxter and Ella Shulz reached on a throwing error, scoring Fritz.
 
Marina Carter singled for a run batted in for a 3-0 early lead. In the circle, Oetzmann tossed the first 4.0 innings while Brandt came in and worked 3.0 innings and collected her first save. The duo worked together to strand seven Beaver base runners in the game.
 
Carter and Courtney Kessler notched multi-hit afternoons, with a pair of hits apiece. Kessler's single in the fifth added one run of insurance in the top of the fifth inning.