SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Minnesota State softball lost its NSIC Tournament Semifinal Game against the Warriors of Winona State on Friday afternoon.

The Mavericks fall to 38-18 on the season and come up short of the tournament championship game. WSU improves to 42-13 on the year and will take on the NSIC regular season champion Augustana Vikings tomorrow afternoon. 

Winona State took an early lead in the game with a lead off solo home run, but Minnesota State responded immediately as junior first baseman Gianna Lara drove in two runs on an RBI single in the bottom of the first to put the team up 2-1. However, the Mavericks would only muster one hit the rest of the game. 

After four scoreless innings, the Warrior offense put up four runs between the sixth and seventh innings and secured its spot in the NSIC Tournament Championship in the process. 

"Tough loss," Minnesota State head coach Lori Meyer remarked after the game. "It really stings. Now we await our fate."

NSIC Tournament Semifinal vs [3] Winona State: L, WSU 5, MSU 2

W: Jayda Berg (20-6) L: Maddie Oetzmann (6-6)

Winona State got on the board quickly, as Sam Keller hit the third pitch she saw over the fence in right center field as the Warriors took a 1-0 lead on the homer. After giving up the big hit, MSU starting pitcher Maddie Oetzmann struck out two of the next three batters and a foul out hit to Cheyenne Behrends at third ended the top of the first. 

The hero from the Second Round game yesterday, Carly Kimmes, led off the bottom of the first with a four-pitch walk, then Behrends doubled to left center, which put two runners in scoring position. The Warriors were able to secure two outs in the inning after a strikeout and a fly out to left, then NSIC All-Conference Second Team first baseman Lara singled to left center, which allowed both runners to score. It was her 39th and 40th RBI of the season. After one, Minnesota State led 2-1.

After a scoreless second and top of the third, Kimmes led off the Maverick half of the inning with a single to shallow center field. She stole second, but the inning ended after a fly out.

After two more scoreless innings, the Mavericks threatened again in the bottom of the fifth, but no dice. Senior centerfielder and All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team member Marina Carter struck out but reached first on a wild pitch, then she moved up a bag on a passed ball. Kimmes walked, then, following an interference call for out number two, a groundout to Jayda Berg in the pitcher's circle sent the game to its sixth inning.

Winona State led off the top of the sixth with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with nobody down. A bunt popped up in front of home plate was caught by catcher Emma Dennison out number one, but a walk loaded the bases for the Warriors. Minnesota State was able to get the second out of the inning on a fielder's choice hit to Izzy Hycnar at shortstop, who launched the ball to Dennison who tagged out the runner attempting to score. WSU designated player Jaden Johnson smacked a bases-clearing double to left centerfield to give the Warriors a 4-2 lead. Minnesota State brought in Sailor Hall to finish the inning and she got a one-pitch grounder for out number three, but the damage had been done. Winona State held a two-run advantage.

After a seven-pitch inning for Berg and the Warrior defense, a fielding error allowed the lead off batter to reach base, then Keller hit an RBI double to left which scored her to put Winona State up 5-2. The Mavericks were down to their final three outs.

Lara was the only Maverick to drive in runs with her two-RBI single in the bottom of the first. Behrends also had a hit in that first inning, but outside of that, Kimmes was the only other Maverick to record a base hit in the loss. 

Oetzmann pitched 5.2 innings, allowed four runs on five hits, but struck out four Warrior batters. Hall allowed one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of work.

Izzy Howe pitched four innings of three-hit two-run softball. She struck out five Mavericks. Berg threw the ball just 29 times in three innings, did not allow a hit and struck out four. She earned her 20th win of the season in the game. 

Keller finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Both of her hits went for extra bases, a lead off homer and an RBI double. Johnson's big hit drove in three runs in the top of the sixth for Winona State.