MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State (37-13, 17-7 NSIC) split a doubleheader with Wayne State on Sunday. The Mavericks won game one 5-1 and fell to the Wildcats in game two, 5-2.
 
Game 1 vs Wayne State: Minnesota State 5, Wayne State 1
W: Armbruster (19-5) L: Felt (2-16)
Minnesota State struck first in the bottom of the first, putting runners on second and third early with two hits to leadoff the game offensively for the Mavericks. A walk would load the bases and Ellie Tallman would score on an error by the pitcher in front of the plate, putting the Mavericks up 1-0.
 
The Mavericks added one more to its lead the next inning, started by a leadoff walk from Ella Schulz. Tallman singled up the middle, pushing Schulz to third. Tallman stole second, then Courtney Kessler hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Schulz from third, giving MSU a two-run lead.
 
The Wildcats scored a run after loading the bases on a single, an error and a walk. Louisa Stowman hit a lineout to Izzy Hycnar at shortstop. She attempted to get the tag at second and Jordyn Rochholz made a heads up play to tag and score on the play, bringing the Maverick lead back to one.
 
A leadoff single for Schulz started the bottom of the fourth inning for Minnesota State. Marina Carter reached on an error and a sacrifice bunt from Tallman moved the runners to second and third. Kessler singled through the right side, driving in both runs and putting the Mavericks up 4-1.
 
Rhyan Fritz scored all by herself in the bottom of the fifth. She reached via an error hit to short and reached second base when Schulz was hit by a pitch. She stole third and scored on an overthrow to the bag, putting MSU up by five after five.
 
The final batter for the Wildcats flew out to right, giving the Mavericks the 5-1 win. McKayla Armbruster pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and one unearned run in seven innings of work in the pitcher's circle. She struck out six batters in the game.
 
Kessler led the team with three RBI. She went 1-3 at the plate. Tallman and Kylie Sullivan both had two hits in the game. Tallman scored one run. Fritz, Schulz, Kurstyn Patnode, who pinch-ran for Schulz, and Carter all scored runs in the game.
 
Wayne State left 10 runners on base and committed four errors in game one.
 
Game 2 vs Wayne State: Wayne State 5, Minnesota State 2
W: Brandt (2-2) L: Lucka (6-9)
The scoring in game two wouldn't start until the bottom of the third. Carter and Tallman both reached on bunt singles and a single to right field from Kessler loaded the bases. Hycnar hit a two-RBI single down the right field line, allowing Carter and Tallman to score. Minnesota State led 2-0 after three innings of play.
 
The Wildcats got on the board in the next half inning. A leadoff single from Dylan Sweeney and an error put runners on first and second with nobody out. Mary Krystofiak hit an RBI single up the middle to make the score 2-1. Wayne State tied the game at two-a-piece on a fielder's choice and took a one-run lead on an error. Sophia Del Vecchio, who entered for relief, struck out a batter and got a fly out to end the inning, but WSC had already taken a 3-2 lead.
 
Minnesota State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a leadoff walk from Fritz and two singles from Carter and Tallman. However, the Wayne State right fielder caught two fly outs, including an excellent grab to deep right to end the inning.
 
Schulz would lead off the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle. Patnode, who came in to pinch run for Schulz, reached second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. The following two batters grounded out to first and flew out to center to end the inning, Wayne State maintaining its one-run advantage.
 
The Wildcats added two more runs in the top of the seventh. An error and an infield single put runners on first and second with one out. Morgan Beaty hit a pinch-hit double, driving in two runs and putting Wayne State up 5-2 heading into the final half-inning.
 
Despite Hycnar reaching on a single up the middle, the Wildcats closed out the game, securing the win. Hycnar finished the game 2-4 with both RBI in the game. Tallman went 3-4 at the plate, scoring one run. Maddie Helin and Carter both had two hits. Helin also reached on a walk. Carter scored the other Minnesota State run in the game.
 
Minnesota State left 10 runners on base in game two and committed four errors.
 
"We were lucky to win game one. We won because we capitalized on their mistakes," said Mavericks head coach Lori Meyer. "In game two we beat ourselves. When you leave runners on base every inning and commit that many errors, you don't deserve to win."
 
Minnesota State is back in action next weekend on the road. On Saturday, April 27, MSU travels to Marshall, Minnesota to take on the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State (19-30, 10-16 NSIC). The following day, Sunday, April 28, the Mavericks will take on the top team in the NSIC, Augustana (40-13, 25-1 NSIC). Both days games will be played at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.