MELBOURNE, Fla. — The Minnesota State softball team (6-10) had a successful day at White Marucci Stadium on Thursday, March 12, earning a 4-2 victory over Thomas More (7-11) in the afternoon before dominating Felician (5-7) with a commanding 12-0 win in the evening.
In the first game, Thomas More jumped ahead early when a single brought home a run, putting the Saints up 1-0 in the first inning.
The Mavericks responded swiftly in the second, with junior Izzy Hycnar's double to right center paving the way for
Chloe Brandt's single, which brought Hycnar in to score.
Carly Kimmes then delivered a clutch double, driving in
Ireland Broderick and Brandt to give MSU a 3-1 lead.
Thomas More edged closer in the third with another score, but Gianna Lara answered back with a solo homer to right field, her second of the season, extending Minnesota State's lead to 4-2.
From the fourth inning on, both defenses held strong, with neither team adding to the score as MSU secured the 4-2 win.
Urbandale, Iowa native Maddie Oetzmann was a force on the mound, pitching all seven innings for the Mavericks. Oetzmann allowed just five hits and two earned runs, striking out six while walking three to move to 3-3 on the season.
Kimmes led the way offensively with two RBIs from her double, while Lara's solo home run added insurance. Hycnar also stood out with two hits, including a double, and recorded five defensive assists.
In the nightcap, Minnesota State wasted no time asserting dominance over Felician. Finley Anderson got things rolling with a double in the first inning, followed by
Hannah Tong's RBI double. Lara drove in Tong with a single, and
Nyah Hulbert capped the inning with a two-run homer to give MSU a 4-0 lead.
The Mavericks added to the lead in the second inning as Avery Dorman singled and advanced on a fly out, setting the stage for Tong's three-run homer. Lara followed with a solo home run to push the score to 8-0. The third inning continued the offensive surge, as
Maddie Helin scored on a Felician error before Anderson blasted a three-run homer to extend the lead to 12-0.
Freshman Jorey Fry was outstanding in the circle, pitching a complete-game shutout over five innings. Fry allowed just three hits while striking out five and walking none to improve to 3-5 on the season.
Anderson led MSU offensively with three hits, three runs scored, and three RBIs, including a home run. Tong added two hits, two runs, and four RBIs with a home run and a double, while Lara recorded two hits, two runs, and two RBIs with a home run.
The Mavericks return to action against Southern Connecticut State on Friday, March 13, at 11:15 a.m. at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Melbourne, Fla.
