TOPEKA, Kan. — Minnesota State (3-3) battled through a challenging opening day at the Washburn Invite on Friday, Feb. 20, dropping a 4-1 decision to Emporia State (7-4) before falling 12-3 to Central Missouri (7-2) later in the day.

In the opener against Emporia State, the Mavericks were limited to three hits while the Hornets capitalized on seven, including an early two-run home run in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Emporia State added another run in the third on a triple followed by a wild pitch to extend the margin to 3-0.

MSU broke through in the seventh when Finley Anderson tripled down the right-field line and later scored on a groundout by Carly Kimmes, trimming the deficit to 4-1. That would be as close as the Mavericks would get, as Emporia State held on for the win.

Jorey Fry delivered a resilient outing in the circle, working six innings on 113 pitches. She allowed seven hits and four earned runs while striking out three and walking one, facing 28 batters and recording nine fly ball outs.

Anderson led the offensive effort with a triple and a run scored, while Ireland Broderick and Maddie Helin each added a hit.

In the second game, Central Missouri used a decisive six-run sixth inning to secure a 12-3 victory. The Jennies combined 11 hits and nine walks to build and extend an early lead.

Central Missouri struck first with two runs in the opening inning on a double that plated a pair, then added another run in the second to make it 3-0. Minnesota State responded in the third with a solo home run from Helin, but Central Missouri quickly answered with three runs of its own, including a two-run homer, to push the lead to 6-1.

The Mavericks showed life in the fifth inning, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 6-3. Brandt came around to score after being hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, and Nyah Hulbert crossed the plate on an RBI double from Dekkers.

Central Missouri broke the game open in the sixth with six runs, highlighted by a three-run double, and Minnesota State was unable to recover.

Lucy Porter started in the circle, pitching two innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits. Maddie Oetzmann added an inning of relief, issuing five walks and allowing one earned run, while Reese Falish tossed 2.2 innings, surrendering six earned runs on six hits and three walks. Hannah Tong recorded an out in a brief appearance. Overall, the MSU staff issued nine walks in the loss.

Helin paced the offense against Central Missouri with three hits, including a home run and a double, while Paxton Dekkers added a double and an RBI. Kimmes also contributed defensively with two assists.

Minnesota State returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 21, when it faces Central Oklahoma at noon CT in Topeka, Kan.