Winona, Minn. --- The Minnesota State University softball team returned to the diamond after weather put a damper on last week’s action. The Mavericks split with Winona State, winning the first game 7-3 but dropped the second game 3-0. With the split, MSU is 26-8 overall with a mark of 11-3 on the circuit.
 
The two teams wasted no time chalking up runs as Winona State, batting in the top of the inning, got things started posting one run in the first inning. The Mavericks would answer that with a four-run inning of their own as senior Lauryn Morris was the first Maverick to tally a run off of a single by junior Samatha Holien. Junior Anna Cole recorded her fourth homerun of the season in her first plate appearance scoring herself and Holien, bringing the score to 4-1 in favor of MSU.
 
Winona State posted two runs in the second inning of the day, Minnesota State was only able to record one run in the inning however. Morris recorded her second run of the day off of the bat of junior Lindsay Erickson.
 
The two teams would then endure a two and a half inning pitchers dual as both teams went scoreless before senior Abby Sonner lasted a solo shot to left field, giving the Mavericks a 6-3 lead after five complete innings.
 
MSU would add an additional run in the bottom of the sixth inning as senior Jenna Peterson reached on a single to centerfield would eventually cross the plate off the bat of Sonner giving the Mavericks a 7-3 lead, which would prove the be the game winning score.
 
Sonner led the offensive charge in the first game of the doubleheader, recording two runs on two hits with two RBI in three at-bats including a double and a homerun.
 
Senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue went all seven innings in the circle, giving up three runs (one earned), on six hits while recording six strikeouts earning her 14^th win of the 2013 campaign.
 
The Mavericks found themselves in a 3-0 hole going into the bottom of the sixth inning as sophomore pitcher Brittany Lauterbach and the MSU defense surrendered three runs on six hits through the first five and a half innings.
 
MSU would get within striking distance in the bottom of the sixth as Morris singled, eventually making her way to third base but Holien was unable to record a base hit and tallied the third out of the inning, the score remaining 3-0 in favor of the Warriors.
 
That would go on to be the final score as the Mavericks recorded five hits but no runs compared to three runs on six hits by Winona State.
 
Lauterbach went all seven innings giving up three runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts and was tagged with the loss, falling to 7-2 on the season.
 
The Mavericks will return to action Saturday, April 20 as they are set to host Augustana at the Diamond at Gage Towers, first pitch is slated for 1 p.m.  
 
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