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Box Score 2 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Minnesota State softball (21-11, 5-1 NSIC) won two shutouts against Sioux Falls on Wednesday afternoon to continue the 2025 NSIC season.
In game one, the Mavericks put one run on the board in each of the first two innings off an error and a solo home run from redshirt sophomore Maddie Helin. It was her first homer of the season. Senior starter Brianne Stone lowered her ERA to 1.56 today after she picked up her sixth win of the year. She allowed just four hits and struck out two.
The bats were active from the jump in game two, as the team scored six runs in the first inning. The Mavericks closed out the game with six runs in the fifth to secure a five-inning win over the Cougars, 13-0. Freshmen Carly Kimmes and Ryanne Mellum were responsible for six RBI in the second game. Kimmes went 3-3 in the leadoff spot with three RBI. Mellum had two hits, including a two-RBI double, with three runs batted in. Sophomore starter Maddie Oetzmann also pitched four scoreless innings with three Ks. She earned her fourth win of the season on Wednesday.
Game 1 vs Sioux Falls: W, MSU 2, USF 0
W: Brianne Stone (6-3) L: Maddi Duncan (8-7)
Starting pitcher Stone pitched a seven-inning shutout in Wednesday's first game. She allowed just four hits and struck out two.
Izzy Hycnar and Ella Schulz drew a two-out walks in the top of the first, then Gianna Lara hit a flyable to left, which was dropped by the Cougar outfielder; Hycnar scored from second, but Schulz was thrown out attempting to score to end the inning. The play resulted in an early 1-0 lead for the Mavericks.
After a scoreless bottom of the first, Helin hit a bomb over the fence in left field to put Minnesota State up 2-0 early in the game.
Sioux Falls put two on in the bottom of the third inning with a single and a walk, but the next batter hit a foul out to Lara at first to retire the side.
The Maverick first baseman doubled to right center with one out in the top of the fourth, then freshman Hannah Tong singled to right, and in attempt to score, Lara was thrown out at home and a groundout ended the inning as Sioux Falls held MSU scoreless.
Another single and walk put a pair of baserunners on for USF, but two pop-ups to the infield ended the fourth inning. After a three-and-out inning for the Mavericks in the top of the fifth, the Cougars put a runner on with two outs in the bottom frame. Stone struck out the final batter of the inning to make it five scoreless for the Sioux Falls offense.
Schulz doubled through the left side in the top of the sixth, but a groundout prevented her from scoring. She was the last Maverick baserunner as the team held a 2-0 lead headed into the bottom of the seventh.
USF's Savanna Isaacson hit a leadoff single in the final frame, but was caught off the bag on a line out to Hycnar at short for a double play, then a fly out to center ended the game.
Schulz, Lara, Tong and Helin were the only players to record a hit against Sioux Falls in game one. Helin's home run in the second inning was the only run batted in in the contest.
Game 2 vs Sioux Falls: W, MSU 13, USF 0 (5 Innings)
W: Maddie Oetzmann L: Gracie Johnson (0-2)
The Maverick bats got going early in game one, as Kimmes and Cheyenne Behrends hit back-to-back singles to lead off the game, then both runners advanced a bag after a wild pitch. Following a Hycnar walk, freshman Mellum hit a two-RBI double back up the middle to get MSU on the board first. Lara drew a walk to load the bases, and four balls later Oetzmann had driven in another run with a walk.
Following a pitching change, a fielder's choice from Helin allowed a fourth run to score in the top of the first, and a single loaded the bases once again for the Maverick offense. Another fielder's choice off the bat of Marina Carter scored another run and finally, a sacrifice fly from Kimmes made it 6-0 by the time USF could get the third out of the game.
After two and a half scoreless innings, Kimmes led off the top of the fourth with a single up the middle, Behrends drew a walk and Hycnar singled to right to load the bases with nobody out. Mellum hit a fly out to centerfield which scored Kimmes from third and moved the other Mavericks up a base. A fielder's choice resulted in Behrends getting caught in a pickle in between third and home and a groundout ended the inning with the score 7-0.
The Maverick defense turned a trio of ground balls into two fielder's choice and a groundout after a Cougar batter reached on an error in the bottom of the fourth. Helin reached on an infield single, then Sailor Hall reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in no outs. A Carter bunt single loaded the bases with nobody out, then Kimmes hit a two-RBI single down the right field line. She advanced to second on the throw home, then she moved to third as a single from Behrends slapped back up the middle scored Carter from third and gave Minnesota State a 10-run lead in the fifth inning.
After a pitching change, Hycnar hit an RBI single that scored Kimmes, but Behrends was thrown out trying to reach third. Mellum hit the sixth single of the inning to move Hycnar into scoring position, then Lara scored both of them with a double to center to make it 13-0 headed to the bottom of the fifth.
Minnesota State plays its first two home conference double-headers in Mankato this weekend. On Friday, March 28, the Mavericks host Minot State (16-12, 4-1 NSIC) at the MSU Softball Diamond. Then, on Saturday, March 29, MSU hosts UMary (9-21, 2-3 NSIC) at noon and 2:00 p.m. in the Maverick All-Sports Dome.
