SHAWNEE, Kan. – Minnesota State softball (6-8) narrowly fell in both of its games Sunday in a pair of one-run losses at the Midwest College Classic. First, a two-run homer put Washburn (13-7) over the top against MSU, 2-1. Then, in an eight-inning game two, Central Missouri (7-6) scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the victory, 6-5.
 
Game 1 vs Washburn: L, WU 2, MSU 1
W: Jenna Sprague (2-2)              L: Sailor Hall (2-2)
The first real threat to score came in the top of the third, when Washburn put runners on first and second with two outs after a single, but the Mavericks got out of the inning unscathed. The Ichabods threatened at the top of the fourth, as a runner reached third after getting hit by a pitch, but a fielder's choice retired the side, still scoreless.
 
The Mavericks got on the board in the bottom of the inning, as Carly Kimmes drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt then made it to third on a fly out. Senior third baseman Cheyenne Behrends hit an RBI single through the left side to score Kimmes from third, which put MSU up 1-0.
 
Washburn led off the top of the sixth with a single to left. A two-run homer gave the Ichabods a 2-1 lead from first baseman, Jaden LaBarge.
 
After a three-up-three-down inning for WU in the top of the seventh, sophomore middle infielder Izzy Hycnar hit a leadoff double to right field. A single from Ella Schulz put runners on first and third with one out, but a strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the game, granting Washburn a 2-1 victory.
 
Schulz was the only Maverick with multiple hits. Hycnar and Behrends each had a hit at the plate. Behrends drove in the only runner of the game for MSU.
 
Sailor Hall was solid on the mound, allowing those two runs on a single swing. She struck out eight batters and allowed five hits in her seven-inning outing.
 
 
Game 2 vs Central Missouri: W/L, MSU x, UCM x
W: Brooke Weimer (2-4)            L: Brianne Stone (0-2)
Minnesota State finished the day with a 6-5 loss to Central Missouri in eight innings.
 
Senior Brianne Stone (0-2) took the loss as she allowed two runs, while throwing six innings in relief. Senior Sophia Del Vecchio earned the no decision as she gave up four runs in 1.2 innings. Brooke Weimer (2-4) picked up the win as she allowed three runs, while throwing three innings in relief. Emily Brouse allowed two runs, once earned, in five innings as she received the no decision.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Jennies rallied for four runs on two hits in the bottom of the second to go up 4-0. UCM scored its first two runs off a sacrifice fly and a walk before a single from Taylor Thompson brought around two more runs.
 
Trailing 4-0 into the sixth, the Mavericks began to work their way back into the game. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out for Schulz. A sacrifice fly from Schulz to left gave the Mavericks their first run of the game. Weimer got the second out via a strikeout, but a wild pitch and an error at first by UCM would allow Behrends to cross the plate before the Jennies could get out of the inning leading 4-2.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh, the Mavericks strung together three hits with one out, including an RBI-single from Behrends, to pull within one of the Jennies at 4-3. Behrends then stole second, but junior Gianna Lara was caught in a run down for the second out. Hycnar then walked, before a single from Schulz drove in Behrends to tie the game at 4-4.
 
The Jennies got the final out in the top of the seventh, before being set down in order in the bottom half as the game went to extra innings.
 
Sophomore Kurstyn Patnode opened the eighth with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior Marina Carter reached base with a single to the left side, before a sac bunt from freshman Kimmes moved the runners up to second and third. A fielder's choice from freshman Finley Anderson scored Patnode before a fly out ended the inning with the Mavericks up 5-4.
 
With two on and two gone in the bottom of the eighth, Hall came on in relief of Stone, needing just one out for the win. A fielder's choice loaded the bases before a wild pitch allowed the tying run to score from third. A single from Emma McCall would then bring the winning run around to give the Jennies the 6-5 win.
 
Lara, Behrends and Carter each recorded two hits, with Behrends also scoring two runs. Hycnar coaxed four walks as well.
 
"Tough weekend with five one-run losses," commented Minnesota State head coach Lori Meyer. "We have a short turnaround before a stretch of 12 games in Florida. Hopefully those games will allow us an opportunity to get rolling and build momentum heading into the NSIC season."
 
As Coach Meyer mentioned, the Mavericks start seven days of games down at THE Spring Games in Leesburg and Clermont, Fla., starting March 7 and ending March 13.