MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State softball (30-8, 10-2 NSIC) won two games against Bemidji State (8-25, 2-8 NSIC) in Mankato Friday afternoon. The Mavericks pulled out a close one to start the day, winning 2-1. McKayla Armbruster struck out her 500^th batter in the second inning of game one. In game two, Minnesota State won 9-3. Gianna Lara hit her team-best fifth home run of the season, but not before freshman Maddie Helin hit her first career homer down the left field line in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Game 1 vs Bemidji State: Minnesota State 2, Bemidji State 1
W: Armbruster (14-4) L: Dolan (6-9)

Courtney Kessler singled through the left side for Minnesota State, advanced to second on a single from Kylie Sullivan and went to third on a fly out. The two baserunners executed a double steal, allowing Kessler to score from third and Sullivan advanced to second, putting MSU up 1-0.
With her second strikeout of the game in the top of the second, McKayla Armbruster reached 500 career strikeouts. She moves into seventh in all-time career strikeouts, the seventh player in program history to reach the milestone.

Both teams would be relatively quiet in the first game. Minnesota State got on the board again, thanks to a leadoff triple from Ellie Tallman. The Mavericks' second baseman scored thanks to a sacrifice fly hit by Kessler. MSU led 2-0 after five.

The Beavers threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh, with two hits to start off the inning. A walk loaded the bases with no outs and a single to left scored Bemidji State's first run. Armbruster struck out the next batter and got the next two to pop out, ending the game. Minnesota State won, 2-1.

Tallman was the only MSU player with multiple hits and Kessler had the team's only RBI.

Armbruster pitched a complete game, striking out seven batters and allowing four hits in seven innings.
 

Game 2 vs Bemidji State: Minnesota State 9, Bemidji State 3
W: Oetzmann (14-1) L: Hastings (1-5)

The Mavericks struck first in the bottom of the first. Kessler reached via an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Sullivan walked, Lara singled to left, driving in Kessler and moving Sullivan to second. A single from Rhyan Fritz loaded the bases and Cheyenne Behrends hit into a fielder's choice, which scored Sullivan. Ella Schulz singled, driving in two runners and putting the Mavericks up 4-0.

There would be no more scoring until the bottom of the fourth. Tallman led off the inning with a bunt single. She would score thanks to an RBI triple from Kessler. The freshman would score on a wild pitch, putting the Mavericks up 6-0. Sullivan reached first on a walk, stole second and scored on a single through the left side from Behrends. After four, Minnesota State led by seven.

The Beavers struck in the next half inning, putting runners on first and second with one out. Alexa Christenson sent a ball to left center, scoring one and putting runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly would score Bemidji State's second run of the game, making the score 7-2.

Helin sent the second pitch she saw in the bottom of the fifth over the fence for her first career home run, putting Minnesota State up 8-2.

Two singles put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the sixth for the Beavers. Morgan Benedict drove in a run with a single up the middle, making the score 8-3. The Mavericks would get out of the jam, allowing just one run.

Lara would lead off the bottom half of the inning with a towering home run over the left field fence. It was the sophomore's fifth home run of the season, giving her the team lead. Minnesota State led 9-3 after six.

Armbruster, who entered in the top of the sixth for Chloe Brandt, close out the game, giving the Mavericks the 9-3 victory.

Both Tallman and Kessler went 3-4 in game two. Lara, Fritz and Behrends each had two hits in the game. Lara drove in two RBI, and Kessler, Behrends, Schulz and Helin had one.

Freshman pitcher Maddie Oetzmann pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. She had one strikeout in her 15^th win of 2024.

"We did a better job of hitting in game two, but more importantly we were able to take advantage of some of their errors," said Mavericks' head coach Lori Meyer. "We weren't satisfied with just two on the board in game one, but sometimes that's the way it is. Sometimes you got to scrape out a win. I thought our defense was solid and our pitching did a nice job. We were able to get out of some jams, especially in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded in the first game."

Minnesota State is back in action tomorrow against Minnesota Crookston (9-25, 2-8 NSIC). The Mavericks take on the Golden Eagles at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6.