MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State softball (28-8, 8-2 NSIC) won both of its games against Sioux Falls (14-17, 5-5 NSIC) on Wednesday. The Mavericks defeated the Cougars 9-1 in five innings in game one and won 10-5 in game two. Senior outfielder Kylie Sullivan had an excellent day, driving in five RBI on two hits, including a two-RBI single in the second game. 
 
Game 1 vs Sioux Falls: Minnesota State 9, Sioux Falls 1
W: Armbruster (12-4) L: Petrick (3-4)

The Cougars threatened in the top of the second, with the second batter of the inning reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. An error by MSU put that runner, Megan Lawson, on third, while the batter was thrown out trying to reach second base. McKayla Armbruster struck out the next batter to end the inning, holding Sioux Falls scoreless.

Gianna Lara led off the bottom of the second with a ground-rule double. A dropped fly by the USF left fielder put runners on second and third with nobody out. Rhyan Fritz hit a fly to right field, but the Cougar player tripped, the ball dropped, and Lara scored. Cheyenne Behrends laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line, allowing Courtney Baxter to score from third, sliding under the tag, putting MSU up 2-0. Another bunt advanced the runners to second and third with one out. Marina Carter drove the runner from third on a fielder's choice and Ellie Tallman drove in another with a single to center field.
Courtney Kessler smacked a single into right field, and a passed ball put runners on second and third with two outs. Sullivan singled to center, driving in the two baserunners and giving the Mavericks a 6-0 advantage.

The Cougars would get on the board in the top of the fourth. A leadoff single and another single for Damaris Cuevas put runners on first and third with one out. A ground out scored the run, making the score 6-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Behrends led off with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a throwing error by the second baseman. Tallman tripled down the right field line and was driven home by Kessler, putting the Mavericks up by seven. Freshman Kurstyn Patnode got her first career hit, an RBI triple to right field, putting Minnesota State up 9-1.

Sophia Del Vecchio came in to pitch for Armbruster. She finished out the game, securing the Maverick victory in five innings.

Both Tallman and Kessler ended with two hits in the first game of the doubleheader, both of whom drove in one run. Sullivan had a multi-RBI game, driving in two against the Cougars. Patnode, Fritz, Behrends and Carter each finished the game with one RBI.

Armbruster pitched four innings, allowed three hits and one run. She had two strikeouts.
 

Game 2 vs Sioux Falls: Minnesota State 10, Sioux Falls 5
W: Armbruster (13-4) L: Ott (1-4)

Minnesota State got on the board first again, this time in the bottom of the first. An error, a single from Kessler and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with nobody out. Sullivan hit a sacrifice fly to right field, which scored Tallman from third.

After a leadoff single from Lawson, Tallman made an excellent play to turn two and Carter made a diving catch to end the top of the second. The Cougars turned a double play of their own in the bottom half of the inning; Fritz led off with a single up the middle, but Behrends hit a ball right to the pitcher and the baserunner was thrown out at first.

Carter drew a leadoff walk and Tallman reached on an error, which put runners on second and third with no outs for the second inning in a row. Carter scored from three on a fielder's choice, initially getting into a pickle, but just sliding under the tag to put the Mavericks up 2-0. With runners still on second and third with zero outs, Sullivan singled up the middle, scoring both runners, putting Minnesota State up four.

After Lara reached on a fielder's choice, Baxter doubled to right center to put runners on second and third with one out. Fritz hit a fielder's choice to score Lara from third, putting the Mavericks up 5-0 after three.
A two-out double from Lawson and an RBI single from Meaghan Jochimsen in the top of the fourth got Sioux Falls on the board, Minnesota State leading 5-1.

A throwing error by the Mavericks and a double put runners on second and third for the Cougars in the top of the fifth inning and a walk loaded the bases. A single down the left field line scored two, making the score 5-3. USF would tie the game with a two-RBI single to center field. A line out to Tallman at second ended the top half of the inning.

Lara rocked a single to left field to lead off for Minnesota State in the bottom of the fifth. Patnode, who pinch ran for Lara, stole second and Baxter moved her over to third with a single through the left side. Patnode scored on a fielder's choice; after getting into a pickle, she was able to avoid the tag and tap home, giving the Mavericks the advantage back. Behrends laid down a bunt, allowing Baxter to score from third. Behrends, in an attempt to get to second base, distracted the Cougars, allowing Fritz to score from second, putting the team up 8-5. Behrends ended up reaching second.

Ella Schulz was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second and a sacrifice bunt from Carter advanced the runners a bag. Kessler launched a two-RBI double to the gap in left center, putting the Mavericks up 10-5.

The game ended on a double play made by Armbruster, who came in to pitch. She caught a line drive and threw out the runner who reached via a walk, ending the game.

Sullivan ended game two with three RBI and one hit. Kessler, Baxter and Fritz each had two hits in the game, and Kessler had two RBI.

Chloe Brandt pitched four innings, allowed one run on four hits and struck out one batter. Armbruster pitched for 2.1 innings and had a strikeout.

"It's always a positive when you can put up 19 runs in two games," said Mavericks head coach Lori Meyer. "I thought we did a good job of both driving the ball and playing our short game, both with bunts and base running, and it was a good combination. However, Coach was not satisfied with the win "[In Game 2] we let them back in it in the fifth, which wasn't ideal, but what was huge was our response; getting five runs back in the bottom half was great to see."

Minnesota State is set to host Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston this weekend. The Mavericks play the Beavers on Friday, April 5 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and take on the Golden Eagles on Saturday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. All games are scheduled to be played outside at The Diamond at the MSU Softball Complex.