Wayne, Neb. --- The Minnesota State University softball team swept the Wayne State Wildcats by scores of 4-0 and 4-2 Sunday, to earn its 29^th win of the season and 14^th win on the circuit.
 
In what turned out to be a pitcher’s duel for most of the contest the Mavericks proved to be the only team that would make it across home plate. The Mavericks had a four-run fourth inning to earn the 4-0 victory over the Wayne State Wildcats.
 
Senior Lauryn Morris got things started, batting at the top of the lineup, with a single. Junior Lindsay Erickson was walked, bringing up junior Samantha Holien who recorded a single, scoring Morris. Freshman Emily Bransky would pinch run for Erickson and would eventually cross home plate as it was junior Anna Cole recording the two run double. Freshman Laura Milligan would be called on to pinch run for Cole, and would score on a throwing error by the catcher, giving the Mavericks a 4-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats were unable to get anything going against senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue who pitched all seven innings giving up one hit and one walk with two  strikeouts en route to her 16^th win of the year.
 
Morris was the only Maverick to record multiple hits, she went two-of-three with one run and also recorded two putouts on the defensive side.
 
The Mavericks didn’t waste any time putting runs on the board in the second game of the day as it was senior Abby Sonner getting things started with a single, Erickson would then record a double, scoring Sonner, and Erickson would also record a run in the inning, as it was Cole recording the RBI single, giving the Mavericks a 2-0 lead after the first inning of play.
 
The Wildcats would answer with a run in the second inning, but were unable to take the lead with runners in scoring position and one out, cutting the Maverick lead to 2-1 after the top half of the second inning. WSC would eventually tie the game up at 2-2 after the top half of the fourth inning.
 
The Mavericks quickly regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning as junior Eryn Edgerton made her way across home plate with freshman Tatum Klein getting the credit with an RBI single, giving the Mavericks a 3-2 advantage. MSU would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Bransky found her way across home plate, extending the lead to 4-2, which would prove to be the final score.
 
Sophomore pitcher Brittany Lauterbach received the starting nod and in 2.1 innings of work gave up one run on three hits. McKelvogue saw 4.2 innings in relief and also gave up one run on three hits but struck out seven batters, earning her 17^th win this season.
 
Erickson led the offensive charge, recording one run on one hit with one RBI and a walk to her name, Klein was able to tally two RBI on one hit.
 
MSU will make its second trip to the Mount Rushmore State as it does battle with the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Wednesday with first pitch slated for 3 p.m.
 
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