ROCHESTER, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (46-11) entered day two facing Winona State (39-13) in the NSIC Softball Tournament. Ward, the NSIC Pitcher of the Year, and the Mavericks started strong but a seven run fifth inning for the Warriors propelled them to victory with an 8-2 win. Facing elimination in the lower bracket, the Mavericks squared off with Minnesota Duluth (39-16) and prevailed after a seventh inning comeback was mounted by the Bulldogs and secured a 3-2 victory.
GAME 1: Winona State
Mackenzie Ward (28-4) started for the Mavericks in the circle against the Warriors. In four and two third innings pitched, Ward allowed five earned runs on two hits to go along with seven strikeouts and six walks in 22 batters faced. Katie Bracken pitched one and a third innings of relief allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and a K. McKayla Armbruster finished the contest for the Mavericks with one inning pitched allowing just one hit in four batters faced.
Liz Pautz (25-5) started for Winona State in the win. In a complete game, Pautz allowed two earned runs on two hits with seven K's and one walk while facing thirty batters.
Ward started the game with three strikeouts to swiftly move them to the bottom half. Ellie Tallman got on base after being hit by a pitch and was caught stealing shortly after as the Warriors defense ended the inning. The Mavericks struck first in the bottom of the second with a pair of RBI singles from Hailey Forshee and Sydney Nelson giving MSU a 2-0 lead. Both teams in the third fell in order and moved them to the fourth. Winona State moved a runner into scoring position with two gone in the bottom half of the fourth but, Ward retired the side with a strikeout. The bottom half saw the Mavericks load the bases with no outs. Minnesota State's advances were halted with two pop outs and a strikeout leaving them juiced as the score remained 2-0 in favor of the Mavericks.
In the fifth however, the Warriors bats came to life. Rylee Stout tied the game with a two RBI double down the left field line. With the game tied Bracken stepped into pitch with the bases loaded and Carly Engelhardt hit a grand slam to right center to break the tie and give them a 6-2 lead. The next Warriors batter, Libby Neveau, hit a solo shot to center field to extend the lead to 7-2. Bracken eventually retired the side with a strikeout.
Minnesota State had just two more Mavericks get on base in the final three innings. Winona State added an eighth run in the top of the sixth with an RBI double from Stout as the Warriors held on for the 8-2 win.
GAME 2: Minnesota Duluth
McKayla Armbruster (10-5) got the start and win in the elimination game this afternoon. In six and two third innings pitched Armbruster allowed two earned runs on five hits with eights K's and one walk. Ward got the final out of the with a strikeout.
Lauren Dixon (16-9) started for the Bulldogs in the circle for their second game of the day. In a complete game, Dixon gave up one earned run, three in total, on five hits. She accumulated seven K's and no walks in the contest.
After the first two innings that saw just one hit combined, the action picked up. The Bulldogs got two runners on with one gone but, the MSU defense ended the threat. Hailey Forshee led things off for the Mavericks in the bottom of the third with a single and Marina Carter came in to pinch run. Then a SAC bunt and a bunt single from Nelson and Tallman put Carter on third with one gone. Newman capitalized with a SAC fly to center making the score 1-0 MSU.
In the top of the fourth MSU put UMD down in order and looked to extend their lead. With runners in scoring position, Forshee hit a ground ball to the second baseman who missed the target on the throw to first allowing Sydney Nielsen and Torey Richards to cross the plate and take a 3-0 lead.
The fifth and the sixth inning saw just one hit between both squads and left the Mavericks three outs away from moving on to the final day of competition. With two outs and two runners on, UMD's Kat Burkhardt singled to right field scoring both base runners and getting within one run to tie. The score was now 3-2 with two gone in the top of the seventh, Ward stepped in to close up shop with one final strikeout to seal the victory 3-2.
Minnesota State returns to the diamond tomorrow morning as they take on the University of Sioux Falls in day three of the NSIC tourney at the RYFSA Complex in Rochester, Minn., First pitch is slated to commence at 10:00 a.m.
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