MANKATO, Minn. — Minnesota State (24-14, 11-3 NSIC) faced off against No. 23 ranked Winona State (33-6, 12-2 NSIC) in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 8 at the MSU Softball Diamond, splitting the games with a 6–2 victory in the first and a 3–2 loss in the second.
Game 1 | Minnesota State 6, Winona State 2
The Mavericks secured a 6–2 victory, highlighted by three decisive runs in the fifth inning while recording nine total hits.
The scoring began in the third inning when Chloe Brandt walked and later scored on a triple by
Finley Anderson, giving MSU a 1–0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Ysabel Lerma, pinch-running for
Hannah Tong, advanced to third on a single by
Maddie Helin and was thrown out at home, but
Carly Kimmes scored on an RBI single by
Avery Dorman to extend the lead. Winona State responded with a run to cut the deficit to 2–1.
The fifth inning saw MSU increase its lead with three more runs. Brandt and Anderson both walked, setting the stage for Izzy Hycnar's two-RBI single. Tong added another run, scoring on Dorman's second RBI single to make it 5–1.
In the sixth inning, Brandt singled and stole second before scoring on an RBI double by Gianna Lara, extending the lead to 6–1. Winona State added a run in the seventh, but MSU's defense held firm.
Maddie Oetzmann delivered a complete-game performance, pitching all seven innings to earn her 10th win of the season (10-5). Oetzmann allowed eight hits and two earned runs while walking five and striking out two. She threw 134 pitches, including 77 strikes, and recorded a season-high 11 groundouts.
Brandt led the offense with three runs scored and a stolen base. Anderson tallied a triple with one RBI and a run scored. Hycnar added two RBIs with a hit and a walk.
Game 2 | Minnesota State 2, Winona State 3
Winona State opened the scoring in the first inning with a run on a groundout to take a 1–0 lead.
MSU responded in the second when Nyah Hulbert singled up the middle and stole second. Helin doubled to right field to drive in Hulbert, and Dorman followed with a single up the middle to score Helin, giving the Mavericks a 2–1 advantage.
The game remained scoreless through the third, fourth, and fifth innings as both teams' defenses held strong. In the sixth, Winona State regained the lead with a two-run home run to right field, making it 3–2.
The Mavericks were unable to respond in the seventh inning.
Jorey Fry pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out one. Fry walked six and threw 123 pitches, including 68 strikes. Freshman
Lucy Porter provided relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or run and issuing one walk.
Hulbert scored one run and recorded one hit while also stealing a base. Helin added a run, a hit, a double, and an RBI. Dorman contributed a hit and an RBI.
The Mavericks return to action Friday, April 10, at 1 p.m. CT against Augustana at the MSU Softball Complex – The Diamond in Mankato, Minn.
