Softball lose three of last four games on the road

The women’s softball team went into the weekend hoping to extend their six-game winning streak on the year.

However, even with a victory in the first game of the weekend against the Wayne State Wildcats, the Mavericks would go on to lose three straight on the weekend, with matchups against the Wildcats in Wayne, NE on Thursday, and then finishing off the week with the Augustana Vikings, in Sioux Falls, SD.

Early Thursday morning, and into the afternoon, Minnesota State took on Wayne State in a doubleheader. In the opener, the Mavericks got off to a slow start before exploding at the plate, finishing with 12 hits during the first game.

Senior outfielder, Jessica Meidl, was the star of the game for the Mavericks, driving the ball out of the park for a two-run walk off homerun. In addition to her homerun, Meidl had a double, five RBI’s, and a stolen base on the day.

Other players who contributed were junior outfielder, McKenzie Paap, who drove in a run of her own, as well as freshman, Torey Richards, and sophomore, Carly Esselman, both having one hit on the game.

Sophomore hard-thrower, Caitlin Stone, was awarded the victory on the day for the Mavericks, having closed out the game with two innings pitched. She continues to impress on the mound, earning her eighth win of the year.

Similar to the first game, the sequel to it went down to the wire. Backed by freshman Torey Richards, who had three hits and three RBI’s on the day, the Mavericks rallied after being down 5-2 to tie the game up. Richards has been setting the plate ablaze, extending her hit streak to 15 games. Despite the comeback in the sixth, it was senior catcher, Katelyn Wobken, of Wayne State who hit the game-winning home run, ending the Mavericks six-game winning streak.

Going into Friday against the Vikings, the Mavericks looked to recover and get their momentum back. After splitting a series with the Wildcats, the girls fell short twice against the Augustana Vikings.

The Mavericks got off to a 4-1 lead early on, but couldn’t keep it under wraps, as the Vikings would score five unanswered runs and go on to win the game.

McKenzie Paap led the Mavs with three hits and two stolen bases on the day, while Richards and Esselman contributed a combine four hits and two RBI’s. Freshman pitcher, Lexi Schoper, took a loss after giving up one run in 1.2 innings pitched.

In the finale, the Mavericks got a taste of their own medicine, getting stomped over by the Vikings early on being on the end of a 7-1 deficit in the second inning. Despite having their backs against the wall, the girls fought their way back the best they could.

Freshman, Julia Bastian, shined at the plate, hitting her first ever home run in the fourth, driving in two RBIs.

Freshman infielder, Hannah McCarville, would later also strike dynamite just an inning later, scoring three runs in the process. Her home run widdled the Vikings’ lead within one run late, but the Vikings weren’t done yet, as they responded with a homer of their own in the seventh, putting a victory for the Mavs out of reach.

After this last road trip, the Minnesota State Mavericks will be making their home-field debut this week, on Thursday against the Sioux Falls Cougars. Torey Richards will be looking to inch towards a 20-game hitting streak and as a whole, the Mavericks are looking to start off their hometown barrage with a bang.

Photo: (Courtesy of photos.paap.net)