MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State softball (32-8, 12-2 NSIC) won two games against Minnesota Crookston (9-27, 2-10 NSIC) on Saturday. The Mavericks won the first game 9-8; Senior outfielder Kylie Sullivan walked-off the game, bringing home the game-tying and game-winning runs with an RBI double. In game two, four Minnesota State players finished with multiple hits, propelling the team to a 5-3 win. The team has now won 12 consecutive games.
 
Game 1 vs Minnesota Crookston: Minnesota State 9, Minnesota Crookston 8
W: Oetzmann (15-1) L: Houser (3-9)

Minnesota Crookston was able to score first in the top of the first, thanks to a pair of singles and a pop up that was dropped in right field resulting in two runs for the Golden Eagles.

Two walks and a single from Courtney Kessler loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom half of the inning. Gianna Lara grounded into a fielder's choice, which scored Ellie Tallman from third. Freshman Rhyan Fritz hit an RBI single to left center, tying the game at 2-2. Another RBI single from Ella Schulz gave the Mavericks a one-run lead heading into inning two.

The Mavericks would add two more to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. A bunt single from Marina Carter and another from Tallman would put runners on first and second with one out. Kessler would single and Carter scored. Sullivan drew a walk to load the bases and Lara would walk, scoring another, putting MSU up 5-2. The team couldn't get any more on the board, after a fielder's choice prevented Kessler from scoring and pop fly ended the inning.

The Golden Eagles responded in a big way in the top of the fifth. With two outs in the inning, Haley Koch hit a two-run home run to make the score 5-4, Minnesota State maintaining the lead. Three straight singles for UMC would tie the game, thanks to the RBI single from Reagan Emerick. After an MSU pitching change, a wild pitch scored runners from both second and third, giving the Golden Eagles a two-run lead. Another single would make the score 8-5; Minnesota Crookston scored six runs with two outs in the top of the fifth.

Minnesota State made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff walk for Schulz, a bunt single for Carter and a walk for Kessler loaded the bases with two outs. Sullivan reached on an infield single hit to shortstop, scoring two runs and making the score 8-7, Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston kept its lead until the bottom of the seventh. Carter's third single of the day led off the inning for the Mavericks. She advanced to second on a ground out. Kessler reached on a fielder's choice, but Carter advanced to third. With runners on first and second, Sullivan hit a towering double to left center, bringing around both runners and winning the game for the Mavericks, 9-8.

Both Carter and Kessler went 3-4 in game one. Sullivan went 2-4, with two walks and four RBI. Lara had two RBI. Both Schulz and Fritz drove in one. Behrends and Tallman both ended with two hits against UMC.

McKayla Armbruster, who started the game, allowed 11 hits and seven runs. She had six strikeouts in the game. Maddie Oetzmann came in for relief, pitched 2.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out two batters.
 

Game 2 vs Minnesota Crookston: Minnesota State 5, Minnesota Crookston 3
W: Oetzmann (16-1) L: Stuck (2-7) S: Armbruster (3)

The Golden Eagles struck first again in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI single from Rayna French, putting UMC up 1-0.

In the bottom of the first, Tallman singled up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out. Lara drove her home with an RBI single, tying the game.

The Mavericks took the lead in the bottom of the second. Behrends singled through the left side, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and stole third while the defense was distracted. Freshman Maddie Helin hit her home with an RBI single, putting MSU up 2-1.

The bottom of the third also proved fruitful for the MSU offense. Kessler and Lara both had singles to put runners on first and second with one out. Fritz grounded out, moving the two runners up a bag. Behrends hit a triple deep to centerfield, driving in both runners and extending the Maverick lead to three.

Minnesota Crookston scored one run in the top of the fourth. A pair of singles to lead off the inning set up runners on first and second with no outs. After a fly out, Emerick hit an RBI single to make the score 4-2.

Helin hit an absolute rocket over the fence in right centerfield for her second career home run, putting the Mavericks back up by three at the end of four.

The Golden Eagles, in the top of the fifth, had two runners on with two outs when Sophie Juntunen hit an RBI single, making the score 5-3, Mavericks.

There would be no more scoring, as Armbruster came in to pitch, closing out the game, sealing the 5-3 victory for Minnesota State.

Four Mavericks had multi-hit games in game two. Kessler, Lara, Behrends and Helin all had two hits Behrends and Helin both had two RBI each. Lara drove in one baserunner.

Oetzmann, the winning pitcher, allowed two runs in 3.2 innings, striking out five batters. Armbruster had two strikeouts in her 2.1 innings of relief.

"It was really important to win that first game to build momentum for the second," said MSU head coach Lori Meyer. "We were affected early by the wind and the elements and Minnesota Crookston was able take advantage of that and take some runs from us. We really had to work for our hits and runs. And with the game in the balance, you want a senior up at the plate, and Sullivan really stepped up and delivered with that walk-off double."

Minnesota State has a few days of rest before traveling up to St. Paul to take on the Golden Bears of Concordia (30-6, 12-0 NSIC). Concordia-St. Paul currently rests as the top team in the NSIC. MSU is 59-21-2 all-time against CSP. That double-header will be on Wednesday, April 10 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.