Mavericks sweep Golden Eagles, Beavers

Minnesota State’s softball team flexed on NSIC opponents as they swept the weekend while the Mavs closed their first three games in five innings, each winning by a combined score of 33-2 while finishing off the weekend with a narrow 3-2 win. Senior pitcher Coley Ries also broke the all-time wins record with 98.

“Anybody can beat anybody on a given day and we have to continue to go out and play our game every game,” Head Coach Lori Meyer said prior to the weekend. “We need to play consistent defense [and] have consistent pitching from both Coley and Libby and continue to hit and make adjustments during our at bats.”

The Mavericks opened up the weekend on Friday in 12-1 and 9-0 wins over the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles and 14-1 and 3-2 wins against the Bemidji State Beavers on Saturday in Mankato. Minnesota State is now on an eight-game winning streak while improving to 38-6 overall and 16-2 in the NSIC.

The Mavericks got off to a 3-0 lead in the first inning in a 12-1 game one win against Crookston. The biggest onslaught came in the second inning, when the Mavericks picked up six of their 12 runs.

Samantha Buhmann led the squad, going 2-for-3 with two RBI’s and a run scored. Kennedy Rieck was 1-for-1 with two RBI’s while Jess Meidl went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and McKenzie Paap and Amber Kral both went 2-for-3.

Ries picked up the win, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters in three innings of action. Minnesota State outhit Crookston, 13-2.

Game two was highlighted by another big second inning for the Mavs. Paap got the scoring started in the first inning as the Mavs eventually gathered up a 4-0 lead after the first. In the second inning, Ashley Thell smacked an RBI single, scoring Meidl. Minnesota State scored five-second inning runs and led 9-0 after two innings of play and would finish with the shutout win.

Libby Bemis earned the win, pitching four innings and allowing two hits and striking out five batters. Minnesota State outhit Crookston 8-2 in game two.

On Saturday, the Mavs hosted the Bemidji State Beavers as they continued to assert their dominance, winning 14-1. Thell got the scoring going in the first inning when she hit a triple to score Meidl and Paap. The Mavs second inning-magic continued as they went on to score eight of their 14 in the inning. The Mavs led 11-0 after two and coasted the rest of the way.

Ries (20-2) notched the record-breaking win, pitching three innings and striking out five batters while allowing two hits.

There was no second inning-onslaught, and the game lasted longer than five innings for the Mavs in their final game of the weekend. Minnesota State scored two runs in the first inning, and after four the Mavs led 3-0 but a minor fifth inning comeback put the Mavs on their heels as the Beavers narrowed it to 3-2. Fortunately for the Mavericks, the Beavers could not complete the comeback.

Bemis picked up the win, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing two hits while striking out six batters. Ries got the save, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing two hits and striking out six batters.
Minnesota State will be back in action on Tuesday at Southwest Minnesota State.