WINTERHAVEN, Fla. --- The Minnesota State softball team finished its Florida trip Thursday as it fell to Concord 5-1, before defeating California, Pa. 10-5.

MSU now owns a 20-6 record on the season.

"It's been a long stretch of travel with games in Topeka, Kan., to Clermont and Winterhaven, Fla.," head coach Lori Meyer said. "Twenty games in 14 days and to finish 15-5 to end our nonconference schedule at 20-6 shows that we can compete with any team. On this trip we had a lot of growth as a team and individually.

"Now we have some time to rest, recover and get some quality practice time in to fine tune a few things and get ready for the NSIC schedule. We have definitely gained confidence and we are proud of how we competed during this stretch of games."

Game 1 Recap

Minnesota State began the day with a 5-1 loss to Concord.

Senior Kacy Nickeron (0-1) took the loss as she gave up five unearned runs in 1.2 innings. Brianne Stone allowed just two hits in 4.1 innings of relief. Nancy-Jo Roberts (4-2) picked up the win as she allowed one unearned run in seven innings, while giving up just six hits.

The Mountain Lions scored all five of their runs in the top of the second as they tallied six hits and took advantage of two Maverick errors. Morgan Gleason drove in the first run of the inning with a single up the middle, before Jolie Privett drove in a run with a single to left. Then with the bases loaded three more runs scored on Lacy Lewis' hit to right field.

The Mavericks reached the scoreboard in the top of the seventh as MSU loaded the bases with one out. A ground out from junior Ella Schulz drove in freshman Rhyan Fritz but the Mavericks would get no more as Concord got the final out to lock down the 5-1 win.

 
Game 2 Recap

Minnesota State finished the day with a 10-5 win over California, Pa.

Senior McKayla Armbruster (9-3) earned the win as she allowed one run, on three hits, in three innings. Freshman Maddie Oetzmann threw 2.1 innings in relief where she allowed just two hits. Aylssa Rose (1-2) took the loss as she gave up nine runs in 2.1 innings.

The Mavericks wasted no time jumping out in front as they score seven runs on five hits in the bottom of the first. A double from sophomore Gianna Lara drove in the first two runs, before a single by Fritz drove in two more. Freshman Courtney Kessler drove in another on a bunt single, before a single to left field from junior Cheyenne Behrends drove in the final two runs of the inning.

The Vulcans got a run back in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly, but MSU add two more runs in the bottom of the via hits from Behrends and Lara to go up 9-1.

California, Pa. then rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth to cut MSU's lead to 9-5. Kaitlyn Achtermeier notched a two-run double before Makaylia Schlosser drove in two with a single.

The final run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth as Lara notched her fourth RBI of the game with a single to left field to put MSU up 10-5. Oetzmann allowed just one hit in the final two innings to secure the 10-5 win.
Lara finished the game with three hits and four RBI. Kessler recorded three hits as well, while Behrends drove in three runs with a pair of hits.

Minnesota State begins NSIC action on Saturday, March 23, as it hosts MSU Moorhead at the MSU Softball Complex. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.