SHAWNEE, Kan. — Minnesota State softball split a pair of close contests at the Top Gun Midwest College Classic on Saturday, Feb. 28, earning a dramatic 6-5 victory over Nebraska-Kearney (9-11) before falling by the same 6-5 margin to Washburn (20-4).
In the first game against Nebraska-Kearney, the Lopers struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning. The Mavericks answered in the second as Izzy Hycnar ignited the offense with a single and later showcased her speed by stealing home on a wild pitch.
Finley Anderson crossed the plate on
Ireland Broderick's sacrifice bunt to give MSU a 2-1 advantage.
Nebraska-Kearney regained momentum in the fourth, capitalizing on walks and defensive miscues to plate four runs and take a 5-3 lead. Minnesota State responded in the bottom half when Gianna Lara singled home Broderick to cut the deficit to 5-4. In the fifth, Hycnar evened the score with a solo home run.
The Mavericks moved ahead in the sixth after Anderson reached on an error and later scored on a clutch single from Hannah Tong. The game went to extra innings, and in the bottom of the eighth, Tong delivered a walk-off RBI single to bring Broderick home and seal the 6-5 victory.
In the circle, Maddie Oetzmann was dominant in relief, tossing 4 2/3 hitless and scoreless innings with five strikeouts and just one walk.
Jorey Fry started the game, working 3 1/3 innings and allowing three hits and five runs, with only two earned.
Hycnar paced the offense with three hits, including a home run and a double, while Tong added three hits and two RBIs. Lara contributed a hit, an RBI, and a walk.
In game two against Washburn, the Ichabods jumped out early with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer. The Mavericks began chipping away in the second when Tong singled and later scored, trimming the deficit to 4-1.
Lara doubled in the third, and Hycnar followed with an RBI single to drive in two runs and bring MSU within one at 4-3. Washburn added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to extend its lead. In the sixth, Hycnar reached base, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on Anderson's single. An error allowed another run to cross, cutting the margin to 6-5.
Despite a late push in the seventh, Minnesota State was unable to complete the comeback.
Tong led the Mavericks offensively with three hits, including a double, and scored twice. Lara recorded two hits with a double, while Hycnar drove in two runs. Avery Dorman reached base three times, scoring once and adding an RBI with two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
"We showed a lot of grit and resilience. A variety of women stepped up and did some nice things," said Head Coach Kristle Wolcott. "Oetzmann showed lots of tenacity. I'm proud of how we responded today!"
Minnesota State returns to action Sunday, March 1, against Emporia State at 12:15 p.m. in Shawnee, Kan.
